Feig, H. and Finlayson, B. (2009). ADB assistance for public-private partnerships in infrastructure development : potential for more success : evaluation study. Manila, The Philippines, Asian Development Bank. ix, 65 p. : fig., tab. 15 ref. Download full report [PDF file]
The special evaluation study (SES) evaluates the performance of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) public and private sector operations in support of PPPs in the power, transport, and water sectors, and the development of related policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks.
The performance evaluation methodology combines project assessments with assessments of ADB’s strategic approach, development impact and value addition, and performance. The analysis is based on (i) findings of a review of all PPP-related public sector operations by the Independent Evaluation Department (IED), and (ii) evaluations by IED and the Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) for completed PPP investments.
ADB’s support for PPPs in infrastructure development in general was rated “successful,” but there are areas for improvements for both, public sector and PSOD operations, as implied by lower performance ratings in some specific areas and sectors.
Chapter II is a brief overview of ADB’s strategies and assistance programs for PPP in infrastructure. Chapter III presents assessments of ADB’s assistance for PPP in its public and private sector operations, as well as an overall rating of ADB’s assistance in this area. Chapter IV summarizes key findings and lessons, identifies issues, and has recommendations for ADB management with regard to future assistance.
ADB (2009). Impact of rural water supply and sanitation in Punjab, Pakistan : evaluation study. Manila, The Philippines, Independent Evaluation Department, Asian Development Bank. vii, 127 p. Download full report [PDF file]
The study was conducted in Punjab Province of Pakistan and covered two projects funded by the Asian Development Bank:
Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (Sector) Project (PRWSSP), and
Punjab Community Water Supply and Sanitation (Sector) Project (PCWSSP).
The study assessed project performance and identified lessons for maximizing the development effectiveness of water supply and sanitation (WSS) interventions. It quantified the impact of WSS assistance on household welfare with a focus on health, education, and employment and evaluated the sustainability of WSS interventions.
The sustainability analysis focused on two key aspects of the WSS projects: (i) technical and physical status and (ii) the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) responsible for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of subprojects.
The following evaluation methods were used:
household surveys (1,301 project households and 1,301 comparison non-project households)
technical survey of 115 subprojects
focus group discussions with 115 CBO executives responsible for O&M, and
knowledge, attitude, and practice survey (KAP) of 1,400 adults and children in the project and non-project communities.
The study rates the overall performance of ADB’s assistance to rural water supply in Pakistan’s Punjab Province as successful but at the lower end of the scale.
Bird, J., Lincklaen Arriens, W., and Von Custodio, D. (2009). Water rights and water allocation issues and challenges for Asia. Manila, The Philippines, Asian Development Bank. ix, 66 p. 38 ref. Download here
As governments across Asia are searching for ways to increase water security for rural and urban water uses, the need to articulate water rights and improve water allocation practices is rapidly becoming a priority issue to them. The process is made more complex by rapid urbanization, climate change, and other drivers of change. With the support of the Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO), practitioners are discovering what role they can play in avoiding and solving problems among stakeholders, and in building an enabling environment for integrated water resources management in river basins.
This report builds on the foundation of the five NARBO workshops on water rights. The report aims to:
provide practical clarity on the concepts and terminology surrounding water rights and water allocation
summarize key findings from the cross-country comparisons made during the four workshops held between 2005 and 2007
stimulate in-depth discussion on water rights and identify ways to overcome the challenges of their implementation
provide inputs for future NARBO and ADB activities to assist governments in the region in improving water rights and water allocation in the context of integrated water resources management
UTCE (2008). Sustainable replication and scaling up of small piped water networks : technical assistance consultant’s report. Manila, The Philippines, Asian Development Bank. 107 p. : 45 fig., 13 tab. 15 ref. Download full report [PDF file]
This study assesses outcomes of the Asian Development Bank’s four small piped water network (SPWN) pilot projects in the Philippines (2 projects), Tien Giang Province in Viet Nam, and in Ahmedabad, India. It also reviews related documents and literature to provide actual policy recommendations for ADB related to their “replicability”, sustainability, and scalability. The focus of this study is on the small-scale water providers (SSWPs) who pioneer and operate piped water networks.
The rationale for this study is not to repeat the obvious fact that implementing water supply in low-income areas brings high social benefits but to identify which characteristics might be changed to increase the potential for their sustainable large-scale implementation in the future.
In this study, the advantages and disadvantages of engaging SSWPs and SPWN systems are evaluated in comparison to the traditional style of piped supply in which central utilities deal directly with individual consumers. After the literature review (chapter 2) and methodology (chapter 3), chapters 4, 5, and 6 describe the situation in the studied cases and their respective estimated potential for sustainability. Replicability and scalability is context dependent – different system characteristics are optimal in a different context. Therefore, these are generally discussed (in chapter 7) after the review of outcomes of all studied SPWNs in the different local contexts. Conclusions and recommendations for ADB are in the final chapter.
See also: Asian Development Bank (2008). In the pipeline : water for the poor : investing in small piped water networks. Manila, Philippines, Asian Development Bank. Download here
Finnish Consulting Group International … [et al.] (2009). NEP : Preparing the Improved Water Quality, Sanitation, and Service Delivery in Emerging Towns Sector Development Program : technical assistance consultant’s report : final report. Manila, Philippines, Asian Development Bank. 6 vol.
This Final Report is the fourth and final main output from the ADB PPTA 4972-NEP for the preparation of a sector development project to attract loan and grant funding from the Asian Development Bank for reform of the urban water supply and sanitation sector in Nepal, with a focus on small towns, and a project for the provision of water supply and sanitation infrastructure and service delivery in emerging towns throughout Nepal. The Sector Development Program (SDP) will include investment in capacity building and institutional strengthening of various organisations involved in management and service delivery at national and local level, and the project will include investment in infrastructure and operational capacity at town level.
Contents:
VOLUME 1: Final Report: Sector Development Program (SDP) Rationale and Strategy
VOLUME 2: Appendices: COMPONENT 1 – Sector Development Program Design
VOLUME 3: Appendices – Finance and Economics
VOLUME 4: Appendices COMPONENT 2 – Small Towns Services Project
VOLUME 5: Sub-Project Feasibility Studies
VOLUME 6: Initial Environmental Examinations (IEE) of Khandbari, Duhabi and Sukhad and Summary Initial Environmental Examination
Johansson, E.M. … [et al.] (2009). Diarrhoea : why children are still dying and what can be done. New York, NY, USA, UNICEF and Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization. v, 58 p. ISBN 978-92-806-4462-3 (UNICEF). ISBN 978-92-4-159841-5 (WHO). Full report
This report examines the latest available information on the burden and distribution of childhood diarrhoea. It also analyses how well countries are doing in making available key interventions proven to reduce its toll. It sets out a 7-point strategy for comprehensive diarrhoea control that includes a treatment package to reduce child deaths, and a prevention package to reduce the number of diarrhoea cases.
The two treatment elements are:
1. fluid replacement to prevent dehydration; and
2. zinc treatments, which decrease the severity and duration of the attack.
The five prevention elements are:
1. immunization against rotavirus and measles;
2. early and exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation;
3. handwashing with soap;
4. improved water supply quantity and quality; and
5. promoting community-wide sanitation.
UNICEF TV Video: Diarrhoea is the second leading killer of children
Created with funding from the World Bank and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), this web site provides resources for capacity building and policy analysis in the field of infrastructure management and regulation.
The Annotated Reading List contains narratives and references, including eight chapters that cover major themes in utility regulation: general concepts, market structure, financial analysis, incentive regulation, tariff design, non-price issues (such as service quality, environmental, and social considerations), information issues, and the regulatory process.
The site includes 500 PDFs, including case studies that highlight practices relevant to infrastructure reform.
The site has been recently updated, and now includes Frequently Asked Questions. FAQ issues include pricing to promote access for the poor and governance/regulatory issues associated with state-owned and privately-owned water providers. In addition, the material emphasizes the need for cooperation between water resource agencies and utility sector regulators.
The Glossary is translated into Chinese, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Iyer, R.R. (ed.) (2009). Water and the laws in India. New Delhi, India, Sage India. 676 p.
Price: INR 995 / US$ 25 Order online
Laws relating to water in India have diverse origins, including ancient local customs and the British Common Law. The in-depth chapters in this compendium pertain to issues on water – water-resource policy, management, conservation, conflict-resolution etc. – and proceed to a discussion of the legal questions that arise. The book also briefly raises and explores the case for a constitutional declaration on water and an overarching national water law.
While most of the chapters focus on water resources legislation, some also deal with issues related to the drinking water sector:
The Human Right to Water: Policies and Rights by Upendra Baxi
Community Engagement in Water Governance by M. S. Vani
Water Use: Legal and Institutional Framework by K. J. Joy and Suhas Paranjape
Drinking Water Supply: Right and Obligation by K.C. Sivaramakrishnan
Water, Women and Rights by Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt
Water Pollution and Contamination by Paritosh C. Tyagi
ADB (2009). Asian sanitation data book 2008 : achieving sanitation for all. Manila, Philippines, Asian Development Bank. x, 134 p. : 2 fig., 27 tab. ISBN 978-971-561-808-3 Download full document
The first data book on sanitation for the Asia and Pacific region, this book features raw data and analyses on the sanitation situation in 27 cities. The cities are members of CITYNET and participants in the Water for Asian Cities Program of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).
Of the 27 cities, 1 is in Bangladesh, 3 are in the People’s Republic of China, 4 are in India, 1 in Indonesia, 3 in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), 5 in Nepal, 3 are in the Philippines, 2 in Sri Lanka, and 5 in Viet Nam
Although the information collected was not complete for all cities, the book draws a number of conclusions from the data.
The overall city sanitation picture is not bright. Sanitation has not been given sufficient priority and certainly lags behind provision of drinking water. Based on the survey, the key findings are the following:
Lack of sanitation and household wastewater treatment facilities is polluting ground and surface waters.
Sustaining public health is an expected outcome of having adequate sanitation, but over half of the cities were unable to report key health statistics. Those that did reveal increasing diarrheal cases when the share of household wastewater increases.
Far too many cities still have incidences of open defecation (ranging from 10%–40%) and sanitation coverage depends on private householders investing in toilets and septic tank systems.
Although almost all cities are aware of their sanitation problems, only 40% of responding cities have sanitation plans, and few were able to provide information on capital expenditure and operations and maintenance costs.
Most cities that provide sanitation services rely on government funding to pay for capital and operating costs, with only 10% indicating that sanitation fees and charges can cover their costs.
Multiple agencies have responsibilities for some aspects of sanitation. However, local government seems to be the primary organization. These organizations were operating under at least several national laws and one local law. These institutional arrangements may frustrate action and reduce accountability.
The findings, despite qualifications about data quality, point to several priority actions that government and other stakeholders need to undertake:
Initiate city sanitation plans, including setting targets for sanitation outcomes and coverage.
Simplify institutional arrangements to strengthen accountability and avoid multiple-agency involvement that can cause delays in taking action; set in place a coordinating mechanism.
Review operation and maintenance expenditures and cost recovery policies to ensure sanitation providers can sustain operations and extend services.
Improve sanitation benchmark indicators and set in place a sanitation information management system that will be regularly updated to help planners and decision makers make investment and operations decisions.
As significant investment is needed, consider sourcing funds from beyond government sources—such as the private sector and user fees, and other revenue-generating mechanisms.
Montangero, A. (ed.) (2009). Promising management models of rural water supply services : outcomes of the 24th AGUASAN Workshop, Gwatt, Switzerland, 13 to 17 October, 2008 : a workshop for sector specialists and decision-makers. (AGUASAN workshop series). Berne, Switzerland, SDC in collaboration with Eawag/Sandec, Helvetas and Skat. v, 46 p.
“Is community management enough to sustain the Millennium Development Goal efforts?” This question was raised to initiate the debate at the Aguasan Workshop 2008, a 5-day event gathering water specialists and development practitioners from all over the world. Although the community management model is by far the most widespread approach for rural water supply services in low-income countries, it has often failed to deliver the expected level of sustainability. Hence there is a strong need for re-examining the approach as well as for investigating alternative management models.
This report synthesizes the main workshop outcomes. It describes an analytical framework that can be used to assess the potentials and limitations of rural water supply management models, as a first step towards enhancing the sustainability of rural water supply services. It also highlights key ingredients for success in managing rural water supply services.
Main findings
The existence of a legal framework clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders is one common element of successful models.
In countries undergoing decentralization, local authorities should play a central role in the management of water services. However, financial, material and human resources have to be effectively transferred from central to local government in order to enable the communes to fulfil their role.
The private sector plays an important part in managing water supply services. In general, the weak profitability of infrastructure maintenance and operation activities is mentioned as a factor that limits private sector involvement. The combination of several water systems or facilities, forming packages comprising profitable and unprofitable facilities to be managed by private operators, could be a way to facilitate private sector participation. Reducing fiscal charges, exempting taxes even temporarily, decreasing water tariff subsidies, and contributing to extension costs could enhance the attractiveness for the private sector.
Capacity building is a crucial issue to tackle in order to improve the management of water services, regardless of the type of management model. Involving NGOs or associations could be a way to provide technical support.
In most cases, the dependence on external funding for the replacement of long-term assets or system extension is considered as a threat to sustainability.
The case studies analysed during the workshop show a trend towards more involvement of the private sector. This is considered as a way to professionalize the management of water services
Case studies
The Burkina Faso case: A sector reform towards delegated management
Kosovo case: Management delegation to regional water utilities
The Tanzania case: Private initiatives to provide water services
The Weinfelden / Switzerland case: A municipality-owned utility in charge of the water supply network
Feig, H. and Finlayson, B. (2009). ADB assistance for public-private partnerships in infrastructure development : potential for more success : evaluation study. Manila, The Philippines, Asian Development Bank. ix, 65 p. : fig., tab. 15 ref.
UTCE (2008). Sustainable replication and scaling up of small piped water networks : technical assistance consultant’s report. Manila, The Philippines, Asian Development Bank. 107 p. : 45 fig., 13 tab. 15 ref.
