ADB Expands Water Cooperation Activities with $3.2 Million Grant Package
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - ADB is expanding its activities to address water issues in the Asia and Pacific region through a US$3.2 million grant package. About 700 million people in Asia and the Pacific are without safe water supplies and some 2 billion have inadequate or no toilet facilities. In recognition of these issues and to accelerate the region’s effort to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), ADB's management is giving higher priority to water investments in the medium term through its Water Financing Program 2006-2010 that seeks to double investments in water to well over $2 billion annually starting this year. Investments include rural and urban water projects, and integrated water resources management in river basins. The grant package, the fifth in a series, will continue to finance a coherent program of activities to support ADB’s water operations by setting up pilot projects; supporting sector reforms; and building knowledge, awareness, cooperation, and coordination within and outside ADB. Phase 5 focuses on putting into practice the experiences gained from the four previous regional technical assistance (RETA) projects in the water sector, explains WooChong Um, Director for water, energy and transport. “Under the earlier RETAs, we were able to achieve a lot in terms of raising awareness, establishing partnerships/networks, and demonstrating new and innovative approaches and ideas,” he says. “The key difference this time is that we intend to use this RETA to turn some of these new and innovative approaches into expandable projects on the ground.” Activities will include the building of water partnerships, upgrading the skills of targeted agencies, producing and distributing information, and organizing networking events to disseminate good practices and new approaches. Support will also be given for water initiatives by civil society organizations, and national and subregional water partnerships. Among the events to be supported are a planned Water Financing Program conference in 2006 to encourage water investments, advocate reforms, and provide useful information for developing countries. The RETA will also support further development of ADB's water web site and information products and services. A grant of $3 million comes from ADB's Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector. Established in 2001, the multidonor facility promotes effective water management policies and practices. As of May 2006, ADB had received committed contributions to the fund from the governments of the Netherlands ($18.2 million) and Norway ($2.1 million). The remaining $200,000 for the TA comes from ADB's own grant funding program which is earmarked for water related projects under an urban initiative for India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. About ADB | 
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