Water

Water Financing Partnership Facility
Investment Windows: Project and
Program Quality Support

In 29 November 2006, ADB approved the establishment of the Water Financing Partnership Facility (WFPF) to mobilize cofinancing and investments from development partners. Approximately 70% of the Facility will be directed toward demonstration projects, and 30% will be for quality support activities. Find out what activities qualify under these investment windows.

MORE ABOUT WAC Main Page About the Facility Investment Windows WFPF Supported Projects Investing in the Facility Multi-Donor Trust Fund Netherlands Trust Fund

ADB is committed to promoting and supporting a balanced and coherent program of investments in the Water Financing Program's three key areas: rural water, urban water, and basin water.

	Rural water service projects Will aim to improve health and livelihoods in rural communities. Projects may include investments in water supply and sanitation, irrigation and drainage, and multiple uses of water in rural communities.
	Urban water service projects Will support sustained economic growth in cities, and may include investments in water supply, sanitation and wastewater management, and environmental improvement.
	Water management projects in river basins Will promote IWRM and healthy rivers. They may include investments in the infrastructure and management of multifunctional water regulation and hydropower facilities developed in a basin context, flood management, and the conservation and improvement of watersheds, wetlands, and ecosystems.

The WFPF's support for demonstration projects will take place through in-country work for project preparation, implementation, reforms, and capacity development in the organizations concerned.

WFPF can provide technical assistance for

• project preparation, financial structuring, and implementation
• reforms and capacity development in project organizations
• policy and institutional reforms to enable IWRM and better water services at project, local government, river basin, and country levels

For project implementation, WFPF can finance goods, works, and services in project components, e.g., to fund interventions that expand water services and sanitation for poor communities, and that introduce IWRM in river basins.

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The program quality support window will provide support to facilitate reforms and strengthen capacity. It will help ensure quality, synergy, and innovation in the implementation of the Water Financing Program.

The scope is outlined below, and a work program will be developed during WFPF implementation.

	Knowledge, capacity, and innovation services WFPF will invest in knowledge and policy services for ADB's operations departments and its clients expert services through a pool of contracted and seconded specialists to supplement ADB's own staff resources pilot and demonstration activities building on a similar program under the Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector innovative approaches to empower water organizations
	Engaging civil society WFPF will provide three ways for civil society organizations to support ADB-financed water projects in consultation with ADB's regional departments: project preparation support independent monitoring of project progress and results by civil society organizations where appropriate capacity development to improve collaboration between ADB and civil society organizations.
	Regional cooperation WFPF will support regional cooperation activities that increase water financing catalyze reforms share knowledge and experience build capacity in critical water sector organizations, including the introduction of performance benchmarking services and peer review processes In supporting regional cooperation, ADB will partner with the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, the Global Water Partnership, the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board for Water and Sanitation, UN Habitat, and others.

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All of ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) will be eligible for WFPF support for projects and activities prioritized under the WFP. Program quality support activities may be implemented in DMCs or in other countries as needed.

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Selection of project proposals will be undertaken by ADB based on criteria agreed between the WFPF partners and ADB. Project proposals can be initiated by agencies in DMCs, development partners, or ADB.

For project support, screening and prioritization will be done by the concerned regional department in ADB. Selection of shortlisted proposals will be done by ADB's Water Committee in consultation with concerned operations directors. The selected proposals will be submitted to the steering committee for approval.

Proposals for support should

• be consistent with ADB's water policy
• contribute to water financing program targets
• introduce innovative solutions
• adopt a participatory approach
• have a high demonstration value in the sector
• have good potential for replication in the country and/or region.

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WooChong Um
Director, Energy, Transport and Water Division (RSID)
E-mail: wcum@adb.org

Karen Decker
Senior Financing Partnerships Specialist
E-mail: kdecker@adb.org