News and Events

Regional Conference on Water Financing:
Addressing Financing Challenges through Good Governance

The Asia Water Watch 2015 study estimates that annual investments of US$8 billion will be needed over the next decade to meet Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets for safe drinking water and sanitation alone. Additional investments are needed for irrigation services, river basin management, flood management and mitigation, and wastewater management. The World Panel on Financing Water Infrastructure made specific recommendations to address these challenges. One of the most significant was the recommendation to double all official and private capital flows to the water sector. With rising public debts, growing populations and increasing levels of poverty, the challenge for governments is quite real, especially in rural towns plagued by issues of creditworthiness, economic viability and financial feasibility.

Experience has shown that one of the principal impediments to accessing financing for the water sector is the absence of good governance. The reverse is likewise true. Good governance can lead to increasing financial viability and, consequently, improving access to finance.

The Regional Conference on Water Financing addressed the urgent needs for:

• renewing political commitment to reforms in order to create an environment conducive for successful public and private investment in the water sector as exemplified by the experiences of Manila Water Inc., Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, and the Public Utilities Board of Singapore
• developing innovative financial products for the water sector, such as those already offered by international financing institutions like ADB and World Bank, that allow for subsovereign financing, bonds, guarantees, and more

Top

The conference aimed to bring together various stakeholders in the water sector to

• discuss the critical issues and challenges of financing the water sector currently confronting the region
• provide innovative solutions to these challenges

Top

The conference covered the following topics:

• Innovative Financing Mechanisms
• Financing River Basin Management
• Watershed and Demand Management
• Financing Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
• CEO Forum on Financing Strategies
• Financing Water for Food
• Perspectives on Regulation of Water Utilities
• Financing Flood Management and Disaster Mitigation
• PSP Options for Small Towns
• Financing Rural Water Supply and Development
• Lenders' Programs and Perspectives

Top

The Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia and the Philippine Water Partnership organized the conference with support from the Asian Development Bank.

Top

The conference was attended by some 200 water experts, government representatives, local chief executives, private sector, bankers and representatives from international organizations concerned with financing issue.

Top

The two-day conference was held at EDSA Shangri-La Manila, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Top

Read about ADB's Water Financing Program.