South East Asian Water Utilities Network- SEAWUN
Background
Improving and expanding water supply and sanitation services is a principal element of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Water Policy: Water for All. Hence, RETA 5922: Regulatory Systems and Networking of Water Utilities was approved in July 20001 to, among other things, promote autonomous and efficient water and sewerage utilities in ADB's developing member countries (DMCs).
One component of the RETA was designed to support a South Asia water utilities partnership whose purpose would be to promote knowledge management and networking on urban water supply and sanitation (WSS) reforms.
Water supply and sanitation (WSS) utility representatives from South East Asia also realized the potential benefits of a utilities network for their region. Upon request, ADB allocated RETA 5922 funds to help water utility representatives from Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines meet in July 2001 in Manila to prepare a framework for the Southeast Asia Water Utilities Network (SEAWUN). Delegates from utilities and national utility associations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam met again in Hanoi in August 2002, and agreed on a draft SEAWUN charter.
Additional funds from RETA 59222 were reallocated in June 2003 to help set up SEAWUN with a secretariat in the offices of the Viet Nam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA) in Hanoi.
SEAWUN started operating in August 2003 when the secretariat was formally registered in Viet Nam and it obtained approvals to establish a bank account.
SEAWUN's Chair rotates triennially and is currently occupied by Indonesia, represented by the immediate past president of the Water Enterprises Association of Indonesia (PERPAMSI).
In a short time SEAWUN has achieved significant commitments and expressions of interest from member country water utilities, from external agencies, and also from WSS suppliers and consulting companies in high-income countries3. SEAWUN has 13 water utility financial members, with 40 prospective new members targeted for 2004. SEAWUN encourages country-level associations and industry groups to also join the Network, in order to reach their individual members4. The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) committed almost $20,000 to support the SEAWUN 2004 Convention. The United States-Asia Environment Program (US-EAP)5 backs SEAWUN's human resource development support program, especially on training and certification of operators. SEAWUN could achieve operating self-sufficiency, eventually requiring external support only for special events and programs.
___________________
- RETA 5922 was closed on 31 December 2003.
- The reallocation for SEAWUN support totaled $53,265.00, and $40,928.03 was eventually disbursed to SEAWUN.
- A large Australian consulting firm is already a signed-up financial member of SEAWUN.
- For instance, affiliating with the Philippines League of Municipalities would enable small town utilities to benefit from SEAWUN programs. The Philippines Association of Water Districts is already a financial member. Most of the SEAWUN Board members are presidents of national associations.
- US-AEP is a program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Sectors and Themes 
Top of page
RSS Feeds
