A virtual dialogue convened by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the World Water Council (WWC) on the Virtual World Water Forum (http://www.worldwaterforum.org/) from September 23, 2002
Sept. 18, 2002 -- The Global Water Partnership has organized an online dialogue on one of the most emotive subjects in water: "Financing Water Services for the Poor."
Moderated by James Winpenny and Daniel Valensuela, this dialogue begins Monday, September 23, 2002 in the virtual 3rd World Water Forum: http://www.worldwaterforum.org/.
Register online and add your comments to the virtual discussion, which will focus on three issues:
• Creating an Enabling Environment for Finance
• Financing Water for People
• Financing Water for Food
All contributions are welcome, especially those that contain information on useful experience, practical suggestions, and innovative ideas.
Background
Halving the water service deficit for the poorest people by 2015 is one of the specific targets adopted by the UN in its Millennium Declaration and reaffirmed in the conclusions of the Johannesburg Earth Summit.
The failings of present policies, institutions and practices are most graphically exposed in their impact on the poorest elements in global society. It is appropriate that international attention, influence and financial means should be focused on serving the poor.
The dialogue will address the problem in the specific contexts of household water supply, sanitation and wastewater disposal and treatment in both urban and rural environments, as well as water for irrigation. Water for People and Water for Food are the predominant themes.
The discussion of "finance" will include both capital and recurrent funding, in other words financial provision for investment in new facilities, the extension, replacement and modernization of existing assets, routine and periodic maintenance of assets, operating costs of systems, the overhead cost of services, etc.
Because of the diverse nature of the water sector in many different situations, these costs fall in the first instance on water users (households, farmers), local communities, private suppliers, water utilities, governments, international bilateral and multilateral agencies, NGOs and others.
There are many ways of attracting funding which matches public and private repayment ability, but ultimately, all costs have to be recovered from national or international subsidies, or from users themselves through charges and specific taxes.
Having said this, there are many ingenious and innovative ways of funding the costs of the water sector, and the organizers hope to hear of interesting cases during this virtual debate.
The discussion will start with no preconceptions about the desirable balance of public and private services. At present only around 5% of the world's households receive water from private providers (both local and international).
In irrigation there is a different balance, since a high proportion of groundwater is provided from private wells. It is estimated that investment in the water sector as a whole will need to double to meet the sector's needs over the next generation, and public, private and community providers will all have to strain to meet these targets. The water sector cannot afford the luxury of dogmatism; a pragmatic stance is indicated.
Modalities
The moderators will monitor the debate and intervene sparingly for clarification or guidance. After closure of the session the moderators would post a summary of the discussion and the key points made.
To learn more, visit http://www.worldwaterforum.org and http://www.gwpforum.org/.
