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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
  • Engage in rural WSS: Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Tien Giang Provinces; Central Region and Mekong Delta
  • Upgrade irrigation system performance: Bac Hung Hai, Song Nhue and Song Chu irrigation systems
  • Advisory Technical Assistance (ADTA) on irrigation system management
Urban
  • Small and Medium Towns (300 / 624 towns without piped networks and sewerage systems )
  • New Projects in Red River and Mekong Delta; Northern Mountainous Areas for Water Supply, Drainage and Solid waste management
  • Rehabilitation of existing distribution network, including NRW
  • NRW Reduction Program for Hanoi (current NRW 42%)
  • Red River Surface Water Supply Project: 300,000 m3/d
  • Tien Giang Water Supply Project: 170,000 m3/d ($55M)
  • Tien Giang Province Sewerage Project: 50,000 m3/d ($30M)
Basin
  • Regulating reservoirs: Central Region
  • ADTAs in international river basin management
  • ADTAs in Water Resourse Management Models; Water related Policies
  • Financial Policy in Water Resource Management
  • Models on Basin Organisations: Red-Thai Binh River; Dong Nai River; Sesan-Srepok River; Cuu Long River
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.