In the second phase of their partnership (2007-2011), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UN-HABITAT will each commit US$ 10 million (EUR 7.6 million) in grant funds for drinking water and sanitation facilities for Asia’s urban poor. This is twice the amount committed in 2003-2006. Besides water and wastewater facilities, the investments will finance solid waste management, slum upgrading, urban renewal, capacity building and knowledge sharing.

Activities that the partnership will support, include:

• Water for Asian Cities programme and its component the Mekong River Catchment Water and Sanitation Initiative (MEK-WATSAN)
• Global Report on Water and Sanitation in Asian Cities.

The US$ 10 million in grants from ADB will be administered as technical assistance. UN-HABITAT’s US$ 10 million will be administered through its Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, but counted as commitments toward ADB’s new US$ 100 million (EUR 76 million) Water Financing Partnership Facility [1].

[1] Asia: ADB launching US$ 100 million water financing facility, Source Weekly, 26 Feb 2007

Web sites: UN-HABITAT - Water for Asian Cities ; ADB – Water for Asian Cities ; ADB – Water Financing Partnership Facility

Contact: K. E. Seetharam, Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist, ADB, The Philippines, water@adb.org

Source:ADB, 13 Feb 2007

Tags: urban wash