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Doubling Water Financing and Results–
Conference on Water Financing Program 2006-2010
Conference Report

26-28 September 2006; ADB Headquarters, Manila

EVENT DETAILS
Date: 26-28 September 2006
Venue: ADB Headquarters, Manila
Contact:

Ellen Pascua
epascua@adb.org

Related Materials:
• Event Description
• Agenda and Materials
• Photos
• Participants’ List
BACKGROUND

Doubling Water Financing and Results was a conference convened by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enable both ADB and its developing member countries to identify opportunities for water investments. This is the first major initiative with clients under the new Water Financing Program 2006-2010.

Senior government officials from 5 developing member countries (DMC)—India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Viet Nam—shared with ADB their perspectives on the status of the water sector in their countries. ADB and DMC delegates then jointly identified the barriers that are holding back action, explored solution strategies, and discussed how a range of new ADB products and services can address the countries’ needs. At the end of the conference, each country delegation identified a list of priority investment needs that they can further explore with ADB.

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Participants A total of 78 delegates from five countries (Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Viet Nam) participated. Senior officials from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) were also invited but could not attend. However, discussions are now ongoing regarding the conduct of a dialogue in PRC.  
Event Format The 2-day workshop was equally divided between plenary presentations and country dialogue sessions. During the country dialogue sessions, ADB and DMC staff discussed the following:
  • barriers to water investments
  • practical solution strategies to overcome water programming barriers
  • ADB products and services that help implement the solutions and strategies
  • opportunities for water investments
DMC Participation Country delegates actively participated in both plenary and dialogue sessions.

Each country delegation, headed by senior representatives from either finance or planning ministry, also prepared initial assessments of the barriers to their water investments.

The conference sought the participation of non-water sector agencies such as planning and finance to make sure that the water sector issues are understood and investment priorities are supported by government agencies which make investment decisions.
ADB Participation There was excellent senior management participation, with the President opening the event and the Vice-President closing it. Heads of regional departments and country offices also served key roles throughout the event, e.g. chairing plenary or dialogue sessions, reporting on results, etc.

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RESULTS

At the end of the dialogue sessions, each country delegation identified priority investment opportunities for their country.

  India     Indonesia*     Pakistan     Philippines     Viet Nam  
Rural
  • Improving O & M
  • Irrigation system expansion off Java
Urban
  • Support PDAM debt restructuring
  • Possible MFF for raw water supply provision
  • Support for big cities sanitation program
Basin  
  • TA support for conservation and innovative financial programs
  • MFF for flood management
  • Encourage and support private sector participation in raw water provision
  • Additional MFF for river basins
Overall
  • Request for in country conference similar in format to the WFP Conference
* Indonesia, together with ADB team, prepared their own detailed analysis of barriers affecting the water sector, their vision and investment targets.

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EVALUATION RESULTS

Initial evaluation from over 61 of the 78 participants shows positive feedback as follows:

  • 80% of respondents said the conference provided sufficient information that they can act on to accelerate the country investment programs and plans for water.
  • 90% said the conference provided useful discussions that will influence their thinking on sector priorities and strategies.
  • 80% said the event helped strengthen their relationship with ADB counterparts.
  • participants unanimously agreed that the event provided greater clarity on the suitability of ADB products and services to their water needs.