The Service Delivery Challenge

Widespread migration to urban centers in the Asia-Pacific region is placing tremendous stress on urban water supplies and sanitation services, with a disproportionate impact on the poor.  Of the 1.7 billion people now living in the region's urban centers, at least 340 million lack access to safe water supply and more than 680 million do not have sustainable services.  Aging systems, insufficient skills, and inefficient operations further compound the constraints.  Intensifying weather events attributed to climate change also complicate services delivery, affecting water quality and quantity and damaging infrastructure.  The lack of access to these services has led to high rates of child mortality from preventable waterborne illnesses and lost economic productivity.  While there are prominent examples of effective services delivery in the region, most service providers do not have adequate human and financial capacity to cope with these challenges, let alone expand their services to serve the growing urban population.

Meeting the Capacity Building Needs through Partnerships

To help build the service provider (or operator) capacity to improve and expand services, the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation put forth a new strategy in 2006 that promotes Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs).  A WOP, also referred to as twinning between service providers, is a proven mechanism for overcoming development challenges by sharing good practices and knowledge, and encouraging peer-to-peer learning.  Water and sanitation service providers worldwide have demonstrated the value of twinning partnerships in promoting the adoption of improved polices and practices and in building human and institutional capacity.  The Secretary General mandated the UN-Habitat, through the Global Water Operators' Partnership Alliance (GWOPA), to promote and coordinate global activities related to WOPs while other development partners undertake regional initiatives. >> Learn More about Water Operator Partnerships

WaterLinks: Asia's Network for Water Operator Partnerships

Established in 2008, WaterLinks is a regional network of water services operators, practitioners and development partners that supports WOPs in the Asia-Pacific region and catalyzes efficiency improvements to enhance and expand access to urban water and sanitation services.  Principal WaterLinks activities are:

• WOPs support and facilitation;
• Regional capacity building program development (e.g. training, toolkits, manuals, studies); and
• Knowledge management and networking.

All WaterLinks activities draw on a range of partner resources and capabilities to achieve tangible results.  To date, at least 60 WOPs and several training programs under WaterLinks have led to more than 1 million urban residents having improved access to water and sanitation services; 100,000 low-income people with first time water supply and sanitation services; 2,500 operator staff trained; and $10 million leveraged by participating service providers in capital and capacity investments. >> Learn More about What We Do

WaterLinks Center

Established in late 2011, the WaterLinks Center is a fully independent, non-profit organization that, on behalf of the network, provides secretariat and technical support in response to the increasing demand for partnerships.  The Center's functions include development partner coordination and support, communications and outreach, partner identification, WOP facilitation services, and monitoring and reporting.  The Center is currently registered as a non-government organization and based in Manila, Philippines. 

Supporting Partners

WaterLinks welcomes and taps support from various sources, including foundations, private corporations, and international donor agencies.  WaterLinks ensures that funds go directly to facilitate partnerships and support capacity building and knowledge management activities.  Currently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Water Association (IWA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provide foundational support to WaterLinks. 

Regional Partners

WaterLinks works with regional partners on knowledge sharing, training, and networking activities that strengthen regional platforms and identify opportunities for new WOPs.  Partner networks include the Indonesian Water Supply Association (PERPAMSI), Philippine Association of Water Districts, Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association, Indian Water Works Association, ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Initiative, U.S. Water Utility Climate Alliance, American Water Works Association, and GWOPA.  WaterLinks looks forward to collaborating with other partners interested in promoting and supporting WOPs in the Asia-Pacific region to enable improved and expanded access to safe water supply and sustainable sanitation.