WaterLinks A regional network for implementing Water Operators Partnerships (WOPs) in the Asia-Pacific Region

water operator PARTNERSHIPS Initiated by 1 st 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 globally Global 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

about WATERLINKS 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.

WaterLinks ACTIVITIES 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 partner ROLES

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

IntroductionDiagnostic Implementation Scale-Up & Replication 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 WOP PROCESS

Direct peer-to-peer knowledge exchange is foundation of twinning Partnership benefits are mutual, but not necessarily equal WOP PRINCIPLES 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

regional TRAINING 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 sharing INFORMATION

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-up WAY FORWARD

THANK YOU ! Arie Istandar