ADB and Singapore Public Utilities Board Partner with World's Leading Institute for Water Education

On Friday 15th of June, The Asian Development Bank and Singapore Public Utilities Board (PUB) signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO-IHE - an internationally recognized institute for water education - to jointly promote knowledge-sharing and networking among the Asia's foremost water institutions and professionals in support of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF).

ADB is a premier broad-based development institution in the Asia and Pacific region, committed to reducing poverty. ADB is committed to boosting investments in the water sector to $2 billion annually for the period 2006-2010, and to delivering access to safe water and sanitation to up to 200 million people.

Based in the Netherlands, UNESCO-IHE is committed to educating professionals and building the capacity of sector organizations, knowledge centers and other institutions in the fields of water and the environment.

The Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) is a network that identifies and adopts solutions to water issues in Asia and the Pacific region. ADB supports APWF's activities as lead institution for water financing and increasing public outreach, including the upcoming Asia-Pacific Water Summit in December 2007.

PUB is the national water agency of Singapore. It manages water in an integrated manner, including the nation's reservoirs, waterworks, rivers, drainage system, water reclamation plants and sewerage system, to optimize the use of Singapore's limited water resources. PUB has a wealth of experience in water management and is the lead organization for APWF’s key result area on knowledge management.

Under the agreement, the ADB, PUB and UNESCO-IHE will work together to promote the exchange of key knowledge and experiences among functional groups, institutes and other key players in the region. “The networks will put knowledge into action,” said Wouter T. Lincklaen Arriens, ADB’s Lead Water Resources Management Specialist.

The agreement covers these specific components:

• Establish a network of water knowledge hubs under the APWF, using UNESCO-IHE's extensive experience with knowledge networks in other regions.
• Review of water sector capacity development experience in the past 15 years in Asia and the Pacific region. Develop and implement capacity development programs on water resources management, water services, policies, and best practices.
• Initiate three series of publications, on priority rural, urban, and basin water topics that are central to the implementation of ADB’s Water Financing Program 2006-2010.

“I firmly believe that together we will set a new standard for collaboration in Asia,” said Meganck of UNESCO-IHE."Everything points to a very positive outcome,"said Han Tong Ng of PUB.

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