RSS Feeds
From Commitment to Action What has ADB done after the 3rd World Water Forum?
Lal Premanath is Mainstreaming Gender Concerns in Water Projects in Sri Lanka
Despite significant strides to gain equal footing in society, women in Sri Lanka still suffer gender-based violence. As member of Sri Lanka’s National Water, Sanitation and Drainage Board and project manager of a water supply and sanitation project, Lal Premanath gets women involved in planning, decision-making and implementation of community water schemes.
TopFind out what ADB has done after the 3rd World Water Forum
Eighteen months after the 3rd World Water Forum, ADB has turned its commitments into actions to improve its ongoing and pipeline projects and the water reform process in its developing member countries. Initiatives include the Water for the Poor- Partnerships for Action, Network of River Basin Organizations (NARBO), Gender in Water Partnership, and Water for Asian Cities program.
Water for the Poor- Partnerships for Action:
Viet Nam setting a good example
The partnership in Viet Nam mainstreams poverty reduction in policies, programs and projects in the water sector. The partners are working at national, provincial and local levels to ensure that poverty reduction is at the heart of decision-making in water management. Agencies in countries have expressed interest in adopting a similar approach.
Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO): Building Capacity to Make a DifferenceNARBO was established to share knowledge and build capacity for integrated water resources management (IWRM) in Asian river basins. Forty-three member organizations have signed up already and a first training program for Southeast Asian RBOs was held in Thailand. A benchmarking program will start shortly.
Gender in Water Partnership: ADB completes gender scan of its water operations ADB completed a gender review of its water operations, including an assessment of 21 water projects in 16 countries. The results show an encouraging trend in women’s participation, but more is needed to involve women in decision-making. Other activities of the Gender in Water Partnership include training courses on mainstreaming gender in and irrigation and water resources management.
Water for Asian Cities Program:
First StepsADB and UN-Habitat developed a collaborative framework to start the program in India, linking it to preparations for the Urban Water Supply and Environmental Improvement Project in Madhya Pradesh. Further activities are expected in People’s Republic of China. Plans for activities in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Central Asia are under review.
Helping Local Entrepreneurs to Invest
This new publication from ADB discusses small-scale private water providers in Asian cities and the entrepreneurial potential of small piped network operators. The publication is the result
of an ADB study on small water providers in eight Asian cities. Download
the publication or e-mail water@adb.org
to order the print version.
Proposed revision in ADB’s Water PolicyThe proposed revision in the ADB’s water policy provision for large water resources projects received comments from a wide range of stakeholders. ADB staff are now finalizing a proposal for ADB’s Management and Board of Directors.
Lending program for PRC for 2005-2007 prioritizes poorer central and western regions More than 80% of ADB’s US$1.5 billion planned annual lending level for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is earmarked for projects in the poorer central and western regions, home to majority of PRC’s poor ethnic minorities. Approximately one quarter of the program will be devoted to projects that promote environmental sustainability, including the Sanjiang Plain Wetlands Protection Project.
New generation of poverty reduction projects in ADB’s updated program for Pakistan, 2005-2006ADB’s new program in Pakistan will highlight projects with greatest impact on growth and poverty reduction. Of the US$1.96 billion ADB earmarked for the next 2 years, priority will be given to rehabilitating existing irrigation services, developing coastal and inland lake communities, and promoting water resources development and management.
2004 Floods to affect Bangladesh’s economic growthADB estimates the gross domestic product of Bangladesh to rise by only 4.8%, instead of rising to 6% as earlier projected. This revision is based on the preliminary assessments of damages resulting from the devastating floods of July and August 2004.
Lending program for Lao PDR for 2005-2006 includes hydropower developmentADB plans to lend US$36.1 million a year to Lao People’s Democratic Republic for 2005-2006, focusing on economic growth and poverty reduction. Among the projects being reviewed is the Nam Theun 2 hydropower development project, which could generate $2 billion revenues for the Lao Government over 25 years. ADB and World Bank recently concluded a series of stakeholder consultation workshops for this project.
Bangladesh:
Water and Sanitation Initiative for the Urban Poor
A
local NGO pioneers an effective scheme to bring clean water
to Dhaka’s slums.
Philippines: Rationalizing Tariff for Private Water Utilities under the National Water Resources Board
A pilot activity is underway to strengthen the government’s capacity in tariff setting and review, monitoring of financial performance of water operators, and economic regulation.
Thailand: Empowering People-One River Basin at a Time
Thailand facilitates the establishment of river basin committees and is re-structuring agencies to promote integrated water resources management.
India- Walking for Water
During a four-year drought in the Indian state of Gujarat, women from the arid rural areas spent at least four hours every day fetching water from a steadily diminishing source.
- Small Piped Water Networks (September 2004)
- January-June 2004 Progress Report on the Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector (September 2004)
- Meeting Report: First Regional Meeting of National Water Sector Apex Bodies (September 2004)
- Project Completion Report: Zhejiang-Shanxi Water Supply Project (August 2004)
- Impact of Water on the Poor (January 2004)
- Water and poverty at the 3rd World Water Forum (January 2004)
- Water in Asian Cities- Utilities’ Performance and Civil Society Views (January 2004)
| 4 October | World
Habitat Day 2004 (Nairobi, Kenya) The event will focus on cities as engines of rural development, and seek to generate ideas on integrated approaches to promote the relationship between rural and urban areas. |
| 12 October | Small
Scoping Workshop for Benchmarking of River Basin Organizations (Jakarta, Indonesia) The workshop will focus on customizing different approaches to benchmarking for Asian river basin organizations, and formulating key performance indicators for testing. |
| 18 October | World
Water Monitoring Day The global community is invited to promote the health of rivers, lakes, estuaries and other waterbodies by testing four key indicators of water quality: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. |
| 18-21 October | Hydro
2004: A New Era for Hydropower (Porto, Portugal) The conference will focus on new prospects for hydropower development and project financing. ADB’s Edvard Baardsen, Deputy Head of the Lao PDR Resident Mission, will attend. |
| 25-29 October | 30th WEDC Conference - People-Centred Approaches to Water and Environmental Sanitation (Vientiane, Lao PDR) The conference will focus on best practices and lessons learned in addressing the millennium development goals through people-centered approaches to water and environmental sanitation. |
| 27-29 October | UN
Symposium on Hydropower and Sustainable Development (Beijing, China) The symposium will examine issues related to hydropower development in the context of sustainable development, with the aim of enabling governments to make informed policy decisions for the implementation of hydropower projects. |
You have received this electronic newsletter because of your registered interest in water and development issues.
Water for All News is produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide current information to developing member countries, professionals, researchers, private sector, civil society, academe, and their counterparts in the donor community who are interested in water sector issues that affect the pace of development.
For comments or more information, contact water@adb.org
Disclaimer
ADB provides the information contained in this newsletter and links to its web site solely as a resource. While ADB tries to provide high-quality content on its web site, it does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of this information; and therefore, will not be liable in any capacity for damages or losses to the user that may result from the use of this information. ADB and its affiliate offices, likewise, will not be responsible for any errors, omissions, or inadvertent alterations that may occur in the disclosure of content in this newsletter or on its web site.