Panel Calls for ADB to Adopt New Approaches on Water Policy

HYDERABAD, INDIA - ADB must "do more and do better" to translate its Water for All policy into action, according to a report released today by an independent panel of experts.

The report, arising from an external review of the implementation of ADB's Water Policy, was unveiled during a meeting with civil society, nongovernment organizations, and other delegates attending ADB’s Annual Meeting that opened yesterday in Hyderabad.

Key findings to improve ADB’s efforts in the water sector were presented by Review Panel Chair Erna Witoelar.

“Water is a key driver for change in the region," Ms. Witoelar said. "ADB must ‘think outside the box’ and conduct ‘business unusual’ to improve conditions in Asia’s water sector and to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Significant resources and a change in the way ADB does business are required.”

The Review Panel’s Final Report and Recommendations provides a summary of progress in the key areas of the policy, identifies remaining challenges and required actions, and outlines five main recommendations with proposed actions to improve ADB’s water operations and investments.

They are that ADB:

• Increases its commitments and develops capacity on water assistance
• Develops long-term partnerships with stakeholders in its developing member countries and donors
• Builds on progress made in integrated water resource management to focus on stakeholder needs and ownership
• Promotes 'business unusual' in water services
• Improves its processes to ensure effective policy implementation

“ADB positively considers the general thrust of the Panel’s assessment and recommendations and will provide a response of how it plans to address them," according to Bindu Lohani, Director General of ADB's Regional and Sustainable Development Department.

“The review has provided ADB with important feedback on how the Water Policy is being implemented. ADB accepts the challenges outlined by the Panel, and is committed to increasing investments in the water sector - to more than $2 billion a year - catalyzing reforms, and supporting capacity development. The presentation in Hyderabad has now marked the end of the one-year review process.”

The Review Panel was commissioned by ADB in 2005 to review progress in implementing ADB’s “Water for All” Policy approved in 2001. It was chaired by Ms. Witoelar, UN Special Ambassador for Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific and former Indonesian Minister of Human Settlements and Regional Development covering the water sector. The other panel members included:

• Mr. Li Yuanyuan, Deputy Chief Engineer and Professor of the Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design General Institute of the Ministry of Water Resources in the People’s Republic of China.
• Mr. Gilberto Llanto, Vice Chairman of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies and former Deputy Director of National Economic and Development Authority.
• Mr. Ravi Narayanan, Chief Executive of WaterAid, an international NGO focused on delivery of water and sanitation projects, research and evidenced-based advocacy.
• Mr. Pradeep Singh, President and CEO of IL&FS Development Corporation, which works with the Government of India to promote public-private partnerships.
• Ms. Annelie Hubach, Adviser from the Division for Environment and Water Resources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

ADB’s Water Policy distinguishes the delivery of water services from the management of water resources. It contributes to ADB’s overall mission of combating poverty in Asia and the Pacific, specifically by improving the poor’s access to clean water and sanitation to increase their water security. Currently, a third of the region’s population lacks access to clean, reliable water and half do not have adequate sanitation.

ADB’s water website continues to serve as a clearinghouse for information and comments received during the review process. Read more about the comprehensive implementation review of the “Water for All” Policy.

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