Water

At the 2006 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, the Asian Development Bank and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) signed a new partnership agreement to fast-track developments in the Asia-Pacific’s water sector.

To implement the partnership’s activities, ADB and GWP have each contributed US$50,000 and jointly developed work programs.

	Implementation of the Hashimoto Action Plan Implementation of breakthrough actions to achieve the MDG Water Targets; Water Operators Partnerships (WOPs) Program is a key initiative.
	Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Development of IWRM plans and strategies for 25 river basins in Asia as envisioned under ADB’s Water Financing Program.
	Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) Support for the APWF, a network that adopts solutions for water issues in the Asia-Pacific region, and its activities
	Support to ADB's Water Financing Program (WFP) Support for the WFP's implementation by mobilizing resources and expanding networks and partnerships.

On 2-3 November 2009, ADB met with GWP in New Delhi, India to

• Review activities under the 2006 Letter of Intent for Cooperation on Water Activities in the Asia-Pacific Region; and
• Design a new framework for future collaboration.

The principal elements of the framework are:

• An exchange of contact details of relevant GWP and ADB staff to facilitate dialogue on possible joint work. It is expected that ADB and GWP would work on selected country water sector reviews, sector analysis, and project and/or program preparatory work;
• Engagement with the GWP Technical Committee (GWP-TC) to identify the potential for a joint knowledge development program;
• Joint work on:
• a proposed Asian Water Information System,
• a regional IWRM capacity building initiative,
• a specific IWRM capacity building program for ADB staff,
• the proposed ADB Water Event in October 2010,
• continued cooperation on water operators partnerships at regional level, and
• a technical staff secondment from GWP to ADB.

ADB and GWP agreed that the exchange of contact details and initial contacts with the GWP Technical Committee would be completed by 30 November 2009.

View the framework for cooperation.

Ellen Pascua
Water Fund Manager
E-mail: epascua.consultant@adb.org