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

aistandar@waterlinks.org