WASH Governance News

Making decentralisation work for development: methodology of the local government performance measurement (LGPM) framework

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:26:33 GMT

Ludwig-Maaroof, J. … [et al.] (2008). Making decentralisation work for development: methodology of the local government performance measurement (LGPM) framework. Jakarta, Indonesia, Decentralization Support Facility and World Bank. vi, 33 p. Download PDF file Indonesia has been transformed from a highly centralised country into one of the most decentralised countries. Since 2001, local governments (LGs) have [...]

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Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:51:40 GMT

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Barbados: water authority bankrupcy forces water rates increase

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:25:39 GMT

The July 1st [2009] increase in water rates is necessary because the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), has been rendered “technically bankrupt”, due to losses in each of the past 13 years, except for 2005/06. Prime Minister David Thompson [...] pointed out that successive losses had forced the BWA to borrow to sustain its operations and its [...]

WASHCost project launches new website

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:48:34 GMT

Read all about the WASHCost project on its new website. The WASHCost project website aims to share good quality information on the project which is being implemented with local partners in Burkina Faso, Ghana, India and Mozambique. Twelve frequently asked questions on the new site will help you understand what the project is about. Stories [...]

Central America: Seminar on Sanitation and Governance ? papers

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:04:17 GMT

From 1-3 February, 2010, the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre organised together with RRAS-CA Red Regional de Agua y Saneamiento de Centro-America) and RAS-ES ( Red de Agua y Saneamiento de El Salvador ) a seminar to share experiences on governance of sanitation services focusing on the Central American region. The workshop took place [...]

Peru: Resignation of Guillermo Le?n over corruption allegations

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:16:02 GMT

In January 2010, the president of Sedapal, the state water utility agency, Guillermo Le?n, was accused of too easily awarding a 13 million soles (about 4.5 millions) contract to TFKC Reprex in December 2008, a company formed just one month prior to the controversial contract selection as a representative of Brazilian Puritech. The contract was [...]

Community kiosks: learning from water supply failures in Malawi

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:23:12 GMT

The Lilongwe Water Board is the sole water supply authority in Malawi’s capital city. However, its service suffered from inadequate response to system and community problems and lack of transparency in water billing. In response to a request for assistance from the community, WaterAid Malawi developed a strategic partnership with the Lilongwe Water Board, aimed [...]

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Venezuela: Ch?vez announces Alejandro Hitcher as new environment minister

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:23:56 GMT

Venezuelan President Hugo Ch?vez announced that Alejandro Hitcher will take over as the new environment minister. Hitcher is currently president of state-owned waterworks company Hidrocapital and will replace Yubir? Ortega who resigned on 25 January 2010 “for strictly personal reasons.” Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 27 Jan 2010

Bolivia: Morales names new environment and water minister

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:33:05 GMT

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has appointed Mar?a Esther Urdaneta as the country’s new environment and water minister as part of a cabinet shuffle on the second day of his new presidential term. Urdaneta, a former researcher at the center for investigation and promotion of rural communities, will replace former minister Ren? Orellana. She has campaigned for [...]

Nicaragua: Congress to create national water authority in 2010

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:04:06 GMT

Nicaragua’s congressional environment and natural resources committee has approved its 2010 work plan which gives priority to the creation of the national water authority (ANA), congress reported in a release. The national water law was approved in 2007 to protect and preserve the country’s water resources. Under the law, ANA will be a decentralized organization, with [...]

Afghanistan, Uruzgan: first water shura held in Kowtal

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:08:38 GMT

The first shura (meeting) on water was held on 26 January 2010 in Kowtwal, Uruzgan, by Task Force Uruzgan (TFU). Led by the Netherlands, the TFU is part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) force in Afghanistan. Senior representatives of the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, the Provincial Reconstruction Team and twenty [...]

Controversial Dam Project in Brazil

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:51:40 GMT

As reported by the Guardian earlier this month, Brazil will go ahead with the construction of a controversial hydroelectric dam in the Amazon forest. It has been estimated that thousands of the indigenous populations in the area would be displaced. Moreover, environmentalists highlighted the damage of the Belo Monte dam on the Amazon basin with [...]

Reaching the MDG target for sanitation in Africa : a call for realism

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:09:08 GMT

Konradsen, F., Bjerre, J. and Evans, B. (2010). Reaching the MDG target for sanitation in Africa : a call for realism. Copenhagen, Denmark, Danida, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 50 p. ISBN: 978-87-7087-299-7 (print version) ISBN: 978-87-7087-300-0 (internet version) Download PDF This leaflet contains a set of Good Practice Notes on challenges in connection with provision of sanitation services from [...]

India, Kerala: social reality TV show contest for green local government

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:26:43 GMT

A local television station says it is launching the first social reality show in India. Called the Green Kerala Express, this daily 30 minute interactive show, starting in February 2010, will focus on sustainable development models developed by the local self-governments. The local government authorities (panchayats) will be evaluated based on their performance in sectors [...]

Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities: A Review of Experiences in Developing Countries

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:29:08 GMT

Marin, P. (2009). Public-private partnerships for urban water utilities: a review of experiences in developing countries. (Trends and policy options ; no. 8). Washington, DC, USA, World Bank, Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF). xvi, 191 p. : 13 boxes, 28 fig., 5 tab. Bibliography: p. 159-176. Includes index ISBN 978-0-8213-7956-1. eISBN: 978-0-8213-7957- Download full publication This study examines [...]

The policy implications of accountability in municipal service delivery in Sudan

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:33:06 GMT

Musch, A. (2008). The policy implications of accountability in municipal service delivery in Sudan. The Hague, The Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 11 p. Download here. This paper highlights the importance of issues of local government accountability to citizens, analyses how changes in accountability mechanisms have been accomplished in a specific case, and examines the policy [...]

India: cities needs a paradigm shift to move towards sustainability

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:44:00 GMT

Increasing urbanization in India has led to pressure on urban infrastructure and deteriorating service delivery. Improving service quality given the infrastructure constraints and limited capacity, especially with rapidly rising demand is a challenge for the local governments. Good Governance is therefore a prerequisite to achieve efficiency and quality in service delivery. Thus realizing its importance, [...]

Afghanistan: direct grants to village councils may serve as new development model

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:47:18 GMT

A New York Times article tells the story of how direct grants to a village council in Jurm, Badakshan province, have reduced corruption and helped the community set up and manage their own water system and introduce education for girls. This development model of providing small grants, often less than US$ 100,000, to village councils, [...]

Afghanistan, Badakhshan: enclave seen as model for development

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:38:29 GMT

A New York Times article tells the story of how direct grants to a village council in Jurm, Badakshan province, have reduced corruption and helped the community set up and manage their own water system and to introduce education for girls. This development model of providing small grants, often less than US$ 100,000, to village [...]

Peri-urban water supply: a sustainable model in post-conflict Angola

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:57:49 GMT

One of the important challenges of post-war reconstruction is to provide more and better quality basic services, such as water. Previous attempts at upgrading main supply systems to accommodate peri-urban areas have been overwhelmed by the explosive demographic growth of Angola?s major cities brought about by many years of civil war. A new paper [1] by [...]

India: Cabinet plans promise better access to water for women and minorities

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:48:05 GMT

Two decisions taken by the Union Cabinet promise to give better access to water for women and minorities in India. The first decision involves in the inclusion of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) of the Department of Drinking Water Supply in the Prime Minister?s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities. The [...]

Municipal Service Project (MSP)

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:06:43 GMT

This is the web site of the Municipal Services Project (MSP), which has been running since 2000 and has now entered its third phase (2008-2013). Phase III of MSP is an inter-sectoral and inter-regional study that systematically explores ?alternatives to privatisation? in service delivery, with a thematic focus on health, water/sanitation and electricity and a [...]

Water cut-offs Cape Town unconstitutional, says DWA

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:28:20 GMT

The water cut-offs? in Cape Town based on one of its by-laws is unconstitutional, as the South African Constitution provides that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water. The by-law conflicts with the empowering legislation as well as with the Water Services Act. But the City of Cape Town is within the [...]

South Africa, Cape Town: objections raised against ?water cuts? probe

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:58:41 GMT

Mayor Dan Plato and Western Cape premier Helen Zille both object to a planned government investigation into water cuts in Cape Town. The Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, set up a task team in October 2009 to investigate alleged water cuts after he visited Mitchells Plain and found several homes of [...]

Liberia, Monrovia: Liberia: ADB commits US$ 29 million for water and sanitation ? but sets condition

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:21:50 GMT

Liberia is poised to receive a US$ 19.9 million from the African Development Bank to address the poor sanitary conditions of Monrovia, but certain “simple conditions” need to be met. The Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) N. Hun-Bu Tulay said the ADB has agreed to provide the amount as a [...]

Tanzania: Ministry pledges boost of budget for rural water project

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:04:03 GMT

Development partners and stakeholders have recommended an increase of funds allocation from the Treasury to the Water Sector Development Programme in a bid to achieve set targets. They made recommendation late last week at the end of a two-day joint meeting to review a five-year programme. The programme’s cost stands at $950 million (over Sh12.35 billion) [...]

Water rights and water allocation issues and challenges for Asia

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:06:59 GMT

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 [...]

Municipal service delivery: new accounting software improves transparency in Kerala, India

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:15:31 GMT

The financial transparency of urban local bodies (ULBs) in the south Indian state of Kerala has increased thanks to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project. The municipal corporations of Cochin and Trivandrum now publish their financial accounts online. The ADB technical assistance (TA) project “Capacity Building for Municipal Service Delivery in Kerala” (2006-2008) assisted municipal corporations [...]

South Africa: addressing water wastage

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:41:22 GMT

How do you fix a leaking pipe? You plug it, of course, but what if there are tens of thousands of water connections all with potentially leaking taps and toilets? To plug or replace all the faulty connections would cost tens of millions of dollars. Ronnie McKenzie, managing director of engineering consultancy company WRP, said a [...]

Honduras: national water utility faces deficit, donors withdraw

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:58:58 GMT

Honduran national water utility Sanaa is likely to close 2009 with a budget deficit of over 200mn lempiras (US$ 10.6mn), director Ar?valo Fuentes said. The deficit is due to high operational costs, particularly in paying personnel, a problem partly attributable to the inadequacies of the previous administration, according to Fuentes. Sanaa’s financial situation has been compounded [...]

Nepal: Preparing the Improved Water Quality, Sanitation, and Service Delivery in Emerging Towns Sector Development Program

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:38:39 GMT

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. Download reports [12 PDFs] This Final Report is the fourth and final main output from the ADB [...]

Nepal: Preparing the Improved Water Quality, Sanitation, and Service Delivery in Emerging Towns Sector Development Program

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:38:36 GMT

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. Download reports [12 PDFs] This Final Report is the fourth and final main output from the [...]

Body of Knowledge on Infrastructure Regulation

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:47:36 GMT

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 [...]

Body of Knowledge on Infrastructure Regulation

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:46:28 GMT

Institutional reforms: introducing a customer charter and quality circles in Sri Lanka

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:29:22 GMT

To improve customer service, ?Sri Lanka’s National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) introduced a customer charter and quality circles. “Water Champion”, M.A.M.S.L. Attanayake, Deputy General Manager for the Regional Support Centre- Central of NWSDB explains how these innovations came about and what they have achieved. Read more: ?Ma. Christina Due?as, ADB, Dec 2008 [...]

Water privatisation: Yerevan water supply, going private gradually

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:01:29 GMT

In 1998, the Government of Armenia began to seriously weigh a private sector solution to the worsening situation with the water supply system in the country’s capital, Yerevan. The Government’s eventual decision to engage the private sector through a 4-year management contract – backed up by donor-funded projects-helped address some of the system’s biggest issues, [...]