Access to clean drinking water and sanitation for the urban poor, water safety and quality management, leadership gaps and climate change are the focus of support to water utilities by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Water Association (IWA). They signed an agreement at the Fifth World Water Forum to strengthen water utilities and their regional associations, such as the Arab Countries Water Utility Association (ACWUA) and African Water Association (AfWA), by:

• providing information and expertise on business planning and programs and services;
• brokering and facilitating global or regional Water Operator Partnerships, e.g. partnerships between mentor and recipient water operators;
• working together to create a regional Future Water Leaders programme; and
• collaborating on and disseminating pertinent information such as reports, analyses, and resources.

Web sites:

• USAID - Middle East
• IWA - Water Operators Partnerships
• ACWUA
• UN-HABITAT - Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance

Source: USAID, 20 Mar 2009

Tags: governance, knowledge management, middle east & north africa, water resources management