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New Thinking on Water Governance
A Regional Consultation Workshop on Improving Water Governance

ADB and the Institute of Water Policy (IWP) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore are convening a major conference on reforming water governance in Asia. IWP is the knowledge hub for water governance in the Asia and Pacific region.

IWP defines water governance broadly as the set of water laws, policies, programs and projects adopted by a country or a state to develop and manage its water resources to meet the current and future needs of its population. Good water governance implies that these laws, policies, programs and projects are effective, efficient, equitable, sustainable, and are consistent with the Dublin Principles. Indicators of water governance consist of, among others:

• Water legislations which are updated, integrated and based on water sector assessments
• Policies that define water rights, quality standards, ground water use, demand management, resource conservation, participation by various sectors at all levels of society;
• Clearly defined responsibilities for water sector functions
• Effective water regulatory agencies and neutral apex bodies as well as autonomous and accountable water service providers
• Decentralized operation and maintenance to water user associations
• Policies that promote cost recovery tariffs and tariffs that reward conservation and penalize waste

The conference will be followed by a high-level consultation meeting on 4 July 2009.

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The conference will

• Facilitate networking and knowledge sharing on water governance
• Launch the program on water governance in Asia

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The conference is being organized by IWP and ADB.

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The following participants are expected to attend the conference:

• Representatives of national water sector apex bodies in Asia
• Governance/institutional experts of water utilities, river basin organizations, and irrigation water service providers; water regulatory bodies; water project managers with strong institutional background
• Former water, finance, and planning ministers
• Legislators in charge of water and environmental legislations
• Other leaders, practitioners and researchers on the topic, from central and local governments, water organizations, private sector, academe, think tanks and civil society

View the list of participants [ PDF ]