Water

Comprehensive Review of ADB's Water Policy Implementation

Report on First Work Session of the Review Panel

9-13 May 2005
ADB Headquarters

The first work session of the Review Panel for ADB's water policy implementation, held at the ADB Headquarters (HQ) in May 2005, provided an opportunity for ADB staff to brief the panel members on ADB's water operations, key priorities, and issues relevant to the review.

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The objectives of the first work session of the panel were:

• familiarize the panel with the review process, content, key issues, and materials
• connect the panel with ADB water operations staff and other HQ stakeholders in the review process
• determine the panel's resource and information needs
• finalize the conceptual framework for the review
• finalize expectations for participation in consultations and assignments for each panel member
• map the process to deliver the final panel report

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The Review Panel's first work session began with issue briefings and presentations on ADB projects, processes, programs, and priorities. Among the topics covered were:

• key objectives of the review
• progress made since the water policy was approved in 2001, and what issues remain the focus of the review
• NGO involvement in ADB projects and the comprehensive review
• private sector participation in water service delivery in several of the DMCs

The Review Panel met collectively and individually with water operations directors and staff, and ADB staff heading up major initiatives tied to key priorities at ADB, e.g. poverty reduction, gender equality, etc.

At the end of the work session, the panel

• finalized the conceptual framework of core issues under review
• created subcommittees for particular issues and identified individual assignments for each panel member
• made commitments to attend the consultations
• made recommendations regarding issues and resources persons to be included in the consultation process

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• Panel members acknowledged the findings from the 2003 interim review, outlined its plans to strengthen and expand the methodology used in this interim review, and incorporate its recommendations into the framework for the 2005 comprehensive review.

• The comprehensive review will focus on the three key areas highlighted in ADB's water policy (water sector reforms, water resource management, and water service delivery), and the four cross-cutting issues (resource conservation, regional cooperation, partnerships, and governance).

• In addition, the review will also consider key internal and external issues and drivers relevant to implementing ADB's water policy and strengthening efforts to address the region's water sector needs. Panel members agreed on the following key focal areas:

Internal Drivers and Issues at ADB

Investment partnerships with DMCs Internal water policy actions (development of skills mix, resources, use of available knowledge) Innovation and Efficiency Initiative Managing for Development Results Initiative Capacity Development Program Gender and Development Program Poverty Reduction Strategy (pro-poor sustainable growth, social development, good governance) NGO Framework: empowerment of and interactions with civil society Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector ADB's Financing Water Program Agenda for Change (from ADB Water Week 2004)

Broader Drivers and Issues

Millennium Development Goals harmonization with multilateral development banks and other donors dams and development (what is possible) public awareness and information knowledge management and partnerships private sector participation urban & rural linkages (balancing urban & rural development through water sector investments) disaster management with a pro-poor focus

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• Key issues raised throughout the briefings include capacity development in the DMCs and within ADB, the unique needs of individual countries and the importance of the country context, the relationship between gender and water, NGO and civil society participation, public-private partnerships, and donor harmonization.

• Among the additional issues raised by the panel during the first work session, the following will require further discussion:

Policies and Procedures

connection between ADB policies and investment programs connection between the water policy, ADB's project cycle, and DMC's CSP: processes, resources and commitments stakeholder involvement at each stage of ADB's project cycle

Strategies and Investment Priorities

regional approaches versus country approaches to strategies and projects investment opportunities: large investments in big projects versus smaller investments in smaller projects private sector participation and loan modalities to encourage local investment. ADB water operations and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) balancing ADB's dual roles as a development institution and as a lending bank prioritization of sector and subsector investments in light of finite resources dams and development: balancing environmental, social, and economic concerns

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View the document [ PDF: 90kb | 19 pages ]. To read, you need Acrobat.

1. Instroduction
2. Background on ADB's Water Policy and Review Process
1. ADB’s Water Policy and Review Process
2. ADB’s Expert Review Panel
3. Comprehensive Review Design and Key Components
3. Summary from first Work Session of Review Panel
1. Objectives
2. Process
3. Key Issues Discussed
4. Timeline and Expected Outputs
4. Appendices
1. Agenda for Review Panel’s First Work Session
2. Short Biographies for Review Panel
3. Summary Timeline of Major Activities
4. Summary of Assessments to Date

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