WaterLinksA regional network for implementing Water Operators Partnerships (WOPs) in the Asia-Pacific Region
water operator PARTNERSHIPS
Initiated by 1st Hashimoto Action Plan Calling for breakthroughs in vital areas of water services delivery, especially through water operator partnerships, to help reach MDGs
Range of donors and organizations support WOP globallyGlobal WOP Alliance led by UN-Habitat; regional WOP networks in Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia
Focus on practical knowledge sharing and partnership Capacity building through twinning partnerships between water operators, training, and knowledge products
aboutWATERLINKS
Regional partnership network to facilitate WOPs in Asia
Founded by ADB, IWA and USAID in August 2008
Aims to coordinate, develop and implement joint WOPs support programs
Leverage comparative advantages to achieve something greater than individual partner inputs
Avoid duplication of efforts and facilitate effective cooperation
key OBJECTIVE
WaterLinks is a network that promotes achievement of the Millennium Development Goal targets for water and sanitation across Asia by promoting the replication and scale-up of innovation through Water Operators Partnerships (WOPs), training and knowledge products, and dissemination of good practices.
WaterLinksACTIVITIES
Brokering and facilitating water operator partnerships
Strengthening capacity through regional training and toolkits
Disseminating best practices via publications, events and a website
Support regional capacity building initiatives and facilitate selected water operator partnerships
Support dissemination and knowledge sharing, and promote and broker water operator partnerships
Establish and facilitate water operator partnerships, develop website, contribute to regional capacity building initiatives
partnerROLES
facilitating WOP
Facilitating over 30 WOP
Most are inter-regional partnerships
Involve mentor operators from Maldives to New Zealand
Benefit recipients in over 10 countries
Many focus on NRW and operational efficiencies
Water quality, continuous water supply, and service expansion also covered
Increasing focus on sanitation WOP
• Identify potential partners• Introduce partners• Facilitate partnership agreement• List preliminary activities
• Develop work plan• Sign MoU (optional)
• Facilitate work plan implementation • Visits by operators• Regular communication• Track progress and results
• Support recipients to become mentor • Provide additional scale-up support• Help conduct national training activities• Develop knowledge products and disseminate via networks
WOPPROCESS
Direct peer-to-peer knowledge exchange is foundation of twinning
Partnership benefits are mutual, but not necessarily equal
WOPPRINCIPLES
All partnerships operate on a non-profit basis, but some may result in a commercial relationship
Partnerships should focus on providing real improvements and tangible results
Partners cost-share through funds and in-kind
regionalTRAINING
Technical training workshops (e.g., NRW) for SEAWUN and SAWUN member utilities
Twinning facilitation guidelines
WATSAN promotion toolkit
Septage management study
Secretariat
Website operational since early 2009
Twinning examples, resources inventory, and news and events
e-Newsletters
WaterNotes
sharingINFORMATION
www.waterlinks.org
Supporting WOP recipients to become mentors for other operators in their country
Involve national water associations as platforms for identifying capacity building needs, and promoting and initiating WOPs
Facilitate partnerships between established and less developed national water associations
Enable development funding agencies (e.g., ADB, JICA) to integrate WOP activities into funding preparation efforts
Develop knowledge products and training efforts to disseminate information on WOPs activities and outcomes.
replication & scale-upWAY FORWARD
THANK YOU !Arie Istandar