Fostering Water Operator Partnerships in Asia: The WaterLinks Experience USAID Washington, DC, August 17, 2009 Paul Violette Chief of Party, Environmental Cooperation-Asia AECOM International Development

presentation OUTLINE Background Water operator partnerships WaterLinks Twinning Next steps

Background

Water operator partnerships

WaterLinks

Twinning

Next steps

background CHALLENGES In Asia, over 70% of people do not have access to improved sanitation and over 50% do not have access to safe water. Regional disparity meeting the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation Water services operators face significant challenges in meeting demand caused by rapid urbanization.

In Asia, over 70% of people do not have access to improved sanitation and over 50% do not have access to safe water.

Regional disparity meeting the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation

Water services operators face significant challenges in meeting demand caused by rapid urbanization.

Objectives Increase access to water and sanitation Improve water resources management Increase the productivity of water resources USAID Asia Regional Strategy Promote partnerships for improved service delivery Mobilize finance for infrastructure investment Engage the private sector to reduce water-related disease Strengthen management approaches for improved regional water security Priority Countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste and Vietnam background WATER FOR THE POOR ACT

Objectives

Increase access to water and sanitation

Improve water resources management

Increase the productivity of water resources

USAID Asia Regional Strategy

Promote partnerships for improved service delivery

Mobilize finance for infrastructure investment

Engage the private sector to reduce water-related disease

Strengthen management approaches for improved regional water security

Priority Countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste and Vietnam

Objective: Demonstrate and disseminate innovative policies and practices for expanding or improving water and sanitation services Implement Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act via utility-to-utility “twinning” – i.e., WaterLinks Regional Partners Regional Organizations: ASEAN, ADFIAP, SEAWUN, SAWUN Development Partners: IWA, ADB, World Bank, WHO Focus Countries: China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Implementing Partner: AECOM International Development background SUSTAINABLE WATER SERVICES

Objective: Demonstrate and disseminate innovative policies and practices for expanding or improving water and sanitation services

Implement Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act via utility-to-utility “twinning” – i.e., WaterLinks

Regional Partners

Regional Organizations: ASEAN, ADFIAP, SEAWUN, SAWUN

Development Partners: IWA, ADB, World Bank, WHO

Focus Countries: China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

Implementing Partner: AECOM International Development

water operator partnerships GLOBAL INITIATIVES Hashimoto Action Plan WWF in Mexico – 2006 Create and implement global mechanisms to promote water operator partnerships (WOP) to help countries reach MDGs Development partners supporting WOP globally Global WOP Alliance led by UN-Habitat Steering Committee facilitates broad stakeholder inputs with representation by USAID Regional WOP networks in Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia with assistance from utility associations Focus on practical knowledge sharing and partnership Capacity building through twinning partnerships between water operators Training and knowledge products

Hashimoto Action Plan

WWF in Mexico – 2006

Create and implement global mechanisms to promote water operator partnerships (WOP) to help countries reach MDGs

Development partners supporting WOP globally

Global WOP Alliance led by UN-Habitat

Steering Committee facilitates broad stakeholder inputs with representation by USAID

Regional WOP networks in Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia with assistance from utility associations

Focus on practical knowledge sharing and partnership

Capacity building through twinning partnerships between water operators

Training and knowledge products

water operator partnerships WATERLINKS Regional partnership network affiliated with UN G-WOP to facilitate WOPs in Asia Founded in August 2008 by ADB, IWA and USAID through MOU and annual work plans Aims to coordinate, develop and implement WOPs Leverage comparative advantages of each partner ECO-Asia has led preliminary coordination of network.

Regional partnership network affiliated with UN G-WOP to facilitate WOPs in Asia

Founded in August 2008 by ADB, IWA and USAID through MOU and annual work plans

Aims to coordinate, develop and implement WOPs

Leverage comparative advantages of each partner

ECO-Asia has led preliminary coordination of network.

Direct practitioner-to-practitioner exchange is foundation of twinning. Partnership benefits are mutual, but not necessarily equal. waterlinks PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES Partnerships result in real improvements and tangible outcomes on the ground. All partnerships operate on a non-profit basis but may result in a commercial relationship. Partners contribute through direct funding and in-kind support.

Direct practitioner-to-practitioner exchange is foundation of twinning.

Partnership benefits are mutual, but not necessarily equal.

Partnerships result in real improvements and tangible outcomes on the ground.

All partnerships operate on a non-profit basis but may result in a commercial relationship.

Partners contribute through direct funding and in-kind support.

waterlinks ACTIVITIES Brokering and facilitating twinning partnerships Strengthening capacity through regional training and toolkits Disseminating best practices via publications, events and internet ( www.waterlinks.org )

Brokering and facilitating twinning partnerships

Strengthening capacity through regional training and toolkits

Disseminating best practices via publications, events and internet ( www.waterlinks.org )

Facilitating over 15 ongoing “twinning” partnerships Most are Asia-Asia partnerships Mentor operators from Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and U.S. Recipient operators in 10 countries, including China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Partnerships focus on operational efficiencies, water quality, continuous water supply, and service expansion for the urban poor. waterlinks TWINNING PARTNERSHIPS

Facilitating over 15 ongoing “twinning” partnerships

Most are Asia-Asia partnerships

Mentor operators from Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and U.S.

Recipient operators in 10 countries, including China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

Partnerships focus on operational efficiencies, water quality, continuous water supply, and service expansion for the urban poor.

Technical training workshops (e.g., NRW) for SEAWUN and SAWUN member utilities Twinning facilitation guidelines WATSAN promotion toolkit Septage management regional study waterlinks TRAINING, TOOLKITS & ANALYSIS

Technical training workshops (e.g., NRW) for SEAWUN and SAWUN member utilities

Twinning facilitation guidelines

WATSAN promotion toolkit

Septage management regional study

Website will be operational by end of 2008 Twinning examples, resources inventory, and news and events Newsletter waterlinks KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Website will be operational by end of 2008

Twinning examples, resources inventory, and news and events

Newsletter

Establish and facilitate twinning partnerships, develop website, contribute to regional capacity building initiatives Support regional capacity building initiatives and facilitate selected water operator twinning partnerships Secretariat support, including knowledge sharing and partnership promotion waterlinks PARTNER ROLES

Establish and facilitate twinning partnerships, develop website, contribute to regional capacity building initiatives

Support regional capacity building initiatives and facilitate selected water operator twinning partnerships

Secretariat support, including knowledge sharing and partnership promotion

Focused technical exchange between two water operators Facilitate replication of innovation and best practices Partners design and implement joint program Build ownership from outset High-level commitment Cost stare Secretariat coordination support Flexible programming mechanisms – e.g., small grants, travel assistance, targeted TA, work shop support, etc. twinning APPROACH

Focused technical exchange between two water operators

Facilitate replication of innovation and best practices

Partners design and implement joint program

Build ownership from outset

High-level commitment

Cost stare

Secretariat coordination support

Flexible programming mechanisms – e.g., small grants, travel assistance, targeted TA, work shop support, etc.

Initiate partnership Match mentor capabilities with recipient priorities Organize preliminary observational visits Sign member-to-member MOU Develop work plan Measurable results/outcomes in one or both countries – e.g. new policy, improved capacity, expanded awareness 9 -18 month timeframe twinning KEY STEPS Report outcomes on through WaterLinks and other G-WOP networks

Initiate partnership

Match mentor capabilities with recipient priorities

Organize preliminary observational visits

Sign member-to-member MOU

Develop work plan

Measurable results/outcomes in one or both countries – e.g. new policy, improved capacity, expanded awareness

9 -18 month timeframe

Report outcomes on through WaterLinks and other G-WOP networks

Ranhill (Malaysia) – MJP (India) Continuous water supply 85,000 people with 24/7 supply Maynilad (Philippines) – Medan (Indonesia) Services expansion to urban poor Master plan development and implementation 17,500 people served King County, USA – WMA (Thailand) Wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation and system optimization 5,000 people with improved services twinning EXAMPLES

Ranhill (Malaysia) – MJP (India)

Continuous water supply

85,000 people with 24/7 supply

Maynilad (Philippines) – Medan (Indonesia)

Services expansion to urban poor

Master plan development and implementation

17,500 people served

King County, USA – WMA (Thailand)

Wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation and system optimization

5,000 people with improved services

twinning ECO-Asia: FY07-08 First ever WASH campaign in Cambodia Waer services promotion Phnom Penh, Cambodia Iloilo, Philippines Ordinance replicated Investment in collection system Septage management Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka Dumaguete, Philippines SOP applied to 2 wastewater treatment plants Sanitation O&M Halong, Vietnam IWK, Malaysia NRW reduced by 50% Attracted 1,000 new customers NRW reduction Services promotion Bac Ninh, Vietnam Ranhill, Malaysia SOP replicated throughout Thailand NRW reduction PWA, Thailand Ranhill, Malaysia Results Focus Area Recipient Mentor

twinning ECO-Asia: FY08-09 SOP developed for Krabi treatment plant and replicated throughout Thailand Sanitation O&M WMA, Thailand King County, USA 10,000 people with improved access to safe water Water quality PWA, Thailand Ranhill, Malaysia Indonesian government adopted national policies Sanitation Policy Government of Indonesia Government of the Philippines 85,000 people with 24/7 water in Badlapur. Entire city to be converted in 2010 Continuous water supply MJP, India Ranhill, Malaysia Results Focus Area Recipient Mentor

twinning ECO-Asia: FY09 Adoption of new customer feedback system Customer service Yancheng, China MWSS, Philippines Adoption of new customer feedback system Customer service Shenzen, China Los Angeles, USA 500 households connected to public sewer Sanitation services promotion Medan, Indonesia IWK, Malaysia 10,000 people with improved access to safe water Water quality Danang, Vietnam Manila Water, Philippines 22,000 people with continuous water supply Continuous water supply Surabaya, Indonesia Ranhill, Malaysia Results Focus Area Recipient Mentor

next steps SUSTAINABILITY Establish WaterLinks a member organization with charter, steering committee, etc. Establish “communities of practice” led by members Equip IWA to takes on more formal secretariat function (with initial funding from USAID through ECO-Asia) with funding support from range of development partners Reach out to potential new development partners, including AusAID, JICA, Netherlands, Sweden

Establish WaterLinks a member organization with charter, steering committee, etc.

Establish “communities of practice” led by members

Equip IWA to takes on more formal secretariat function (with initial funding from USAID through ECO-Asia) with funding support from range of development partners

Reach out to potential new development partners, including AusAID, JICA, Netherlands, Sweden

next steps FORUM WaterLinks Forum: 28-30 September, 2009 in Bangkok Introduce water operators to mechanics and benefits of twinning by presenting approach and results Gain feedback of principles and approach Develop regional strategy on effective twinning Facilitate matchmaking between mentors and recipients Introduce other development partners to WaterLinks Organize partners meeting to promote sustainability

WaterLinks Forum: 28-30 September, 2009 in Bangkok

Introduce water operators to mechanics and benefits of twinning by presenting approach and results

Gain feedback of principles and approach

Develop regional strategy on effective twinning

Facilitate matchmaking between mentors and recipients

Introduce other development partners to WaterLinks

Organize partners meeting to promote sustainability

Thank You Paul Violette [email_address]