Scaling up the practice of water operators’ partnership (WOP) and its linkages with investment programmes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Funding is limiting the extent to which water operators can engage in helping one another to increase access to water and sanitation services. Besides capacity development support, Water Operators' Partnerships are increasingly supporting mobilisation, implementation and sustainability of investment programmes. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of the current funding scenario for Water Operators` Partnerships, identify obstacles, and explore possibilities to promote the mobilisation of additional funds. It does so by analysing costs, sizes, sources of funding and the co-existence of WOPs with investment programmes. Some significant findings include the increasing recognition of the positive influence of WOPs not only by donors but also by development financial institutions, the emergence of WOP-dedicated programmes, the great potential of funds coming from decentralised development funding mechanisms, and the multiple scenarios in which WOPs and investment programmes co-exist. Salient challenges are the low reach of information related to WOP outcomes and the low feasibility of WOPs being funded by the technical assistance component of investment programmes. A remarkable highlight is the invitation from development financial institutions to WOP proponents to join forces in identifying ways to secure the best alignment and synergies between WOP support and investment programmes.