Water

Results of ADB Water Week 2004 Water for the Poor: Setting the Rules and Finding the Money Change Agenda Changing Incentives and Advocacy Empowering civil society as catalyst for water sector reform Government and civil society to work together as partners, not adversaries.

Results of ADB Water Week 2004 Change Agenda Changing selection criteria Changing incentives and advocacy Changing regulation Changing the rules to reward efficiency Changing the focus of lending Changing the nature of water project Changing water financing partners

Research shows that civil society is often poorly informed about water service provider's performance and reform strategies, and that water legislation and policies are often experienced as confusing and non-transparent. Civil society seldom appreciates that cost recovery tariffs put consumers in control while subsidies leave politicians in control. When civil society becomes empowered with better information, resources, and influence, they can exercise their influence to catalyze reforms, even against entrenched and powerful vested interests.

Civil society also needs to become more active in advocacy and public awareness, based on a sound understanding of sector issues and solutions, and should be given opportunities to help in designing and implementing projects, as well as in setting up "watch dogs" or other monitoring arrangements. Specific roles should be created for NGOs, academics, and journalists to help catalyze reforms and work in partnership with, rather than against government.

Empowering civil society requires a change in attitude and approach on the part of other stakeholders:

• Government has to be prepared to listen and take benefit from civil society.

• Water service providers have to be open to participatory approaches to providing their services.

• Donors should ensure that empowerment of civil society to support water reforms is built into programs they support.

The ADB's water policy provides that:

• Water projects supported by ADB will incorporate carefully designed components that promote the participation of civil society in identifying needs and issues, designing solutions, and establishing mechanisms for monitoring and dispute resolution.

• ADB will also promote wide-ranging public awareness and community education programs especially among women, youth and farmer groups to convey the message that water is a resource that needs prudent management.

• In its water-related programs and projects, ADB will incorporate components that educate the industry on the efficient use of water, and the need for higher prices for both water use and effluent treatment and discharge.

• Clearly the mindset of people have to change. It is insufficient for policy makers to approach water resource management differently; those who consume water also need to recognize the critical nature of the resource.