BUILDING THE WATER OPERATORS PARTNERSHIP …...WOPs are based on the premise that establishing...

�The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica

BU I LD ING THE WATER OPERATORS PARTNERSH I P P LAT FORM FOR AFR ICA

The Water Operators Partnerships - AfricaAn Action Program to Enhance the Performance of African Water and Sanitation Utilities

� The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica

Vivian Castro

Dennis Mwanza

Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company

Dennis Mwanza

Vivian CastroRand Water

Alain Morel Image courtesy of WEDC. c Rebecca Scott

Habel Chibelenje

Image courtesy of WEDC. c Wayne Conradie

Alain MorelAlain Morel

Kafubu Water and Sewerage CompanyKafubu Water and Sewerage Company

2007 Sean Hawkey, courtesy of Photosharec

(Cover photos courtesy of Alain Morel)

WOP-AfricaThe power of partnerships to meet the urban challenges of water supply and sanitation

WOP-AfricaThe power of partnerships to meet the urban challenges of water supply and sanitation

2007 Sean Hawkey, courtesy of Photosharec

The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica �The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica

Over the last decade more than thirty countries in Africa have been implementing institutional reforms of urban water and sanitation services. Some have been more successful than others but all provide lessons to be shared in the sector. The time is now ripe to capitalize on these experiences and to share them. The trend in the sector has been to bring in non-utility consultants to engage with water and sewerage utilities on specific, short-term projects for institutional capacity building. These have not usually yielded sustainable solutions. However, the few utility-to-utility exchanges have been promising and provide opportunity to scale-up these initiatives within a stronger framework.

A workshop for utilities was held in Johannesburg on 24-26 April 2007 and brought together 96 water utility executives representing 70 water utilities in 30 African countries. The workshop was a follow-up to the 6-8 December 2006 Capacity Building Workshop organized jointly by UN-DESA and UN-HABITAT in Nairobi, Kenya. The idea of Water Operators Partnerships (WOP) was endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board (UNSGAB) on Water and Sanitation in March 2006 as one of its key programs. It is also part of the Hashimoto Action Plan to be implemented by different key stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector including the UN, international organizations, multi-lateral development banks and governments.

The Water Operators Partnership for Africa (WOP-Africa) will build on the work of the Water Utilities Partnership (WUP) and is part of the Global Water Operators Partnership under the leadership of UN-Habitat. The workshop in Johannesburg was historic in that AfWA and ESAR-IWA, the two Water Associations on the continent, had an unprecedented opportunity to come together and strategize on how best to meet the challenge of improving utility performance and achieving the MDGs in water and sanitation for urban Africa.

There are a number of operational details that are yet to be determined. However, what is clear is that African water utilities are best placed to take the driver seat and to move forward with this initiative in a participatory and coordinated manner, all of which are necessary factors for WOP-Africa’s success. The WOP-Africa is built on the premise that well-performing utilities will step forward and emerge as leaders and that the needs of the less well-performing utilities will be met in a professional and sustainable manner.

This framework for the WOP-Africa is a culmination of initial activities facilitated by the Water and Sanitation Programme in Africa (WSP-Africa). This is in response to the need of the utilities in Africa to operationalise the WOP-Africa. The utilities in Africa believe that by working together, making use of the immense experience that exists on the continent and sharing these experiences, WOP-Africa is more likely to realize its vision of an Africa with improved water and sanitation services for all.

Mamadou Dia, President African Water Association (AfWA)

foreword

Hamanth Kasan, Chairman, International Water Association- Eastern and Southern Africa (IWA-ESAR)

Chairman of ESAR-IWA (left) and General Secretary of AfWA (right), Interim Steering Committee Meeting, November 2007


The decision to establish the WOPs mechanism stems from concern about missing the water and sanitation targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in many African countries. It has become apparent that if business continues as usual in sub-Saharan Africa, the region will only reach the Millennium Development Goal water target by 2040, and the sanitation target only by 2076. These figures present an enormous challenge and an impetus to work together to accelerate progress.

The basic strategy of WOPs is to seek accelerated improvements in the performance of WSS operators through more intense and systematic knowledge exchange including support partnerships between operators. WOPs are based on the premise that establishing direct and effective partnerships and networking between operators at global, regional, sub-regional and national levels and facilitating a process of “learning by doing” is an urgent necessity for better equipping the key players in the sector to play their crucial role in meeting the challenges of attaining the MDGs on drinking water supply and sanitation.

It is also apparent that without an effective and sustainable governance structure, initiatives such as training, networking, knowledge sharing or benchmarking can only make a limited difference. In addition, to be effective and sustainable, the partnership initiative must be owned and managed by the utilities themselves in a manner that addresses their needs so that specific benefits accrue on a continuous basis.

Endorsed by the UN-DESA and regionally driven by the UN-Habitat, working in collaboration with WSP-Africa, AfWA and IWA-ESAR, the WOP Africa Initiative will support the ongoing efforts towards achieving the WSS MDGs.

In this vein, participants recognize the significant roles being played by the NEPAD and AMCOW, and seek endorsement and support of these institutions in meeting the objectives of existing and future partnerships envisaged under the WOP.

therationale


thebackgroundThis document outlines the progress made and steps to be taken in implementing the Water Operators Partnership in Africa (WOP-Africa), which is under the umbrella of the Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance. The Global Partnership is spearheaded by UN Habitat.

The Global Water Operators Partnership proposal is one of the Compendium of Actions that were announced by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) during the 4th World Water Forum held in Mexico during March 16-23, 2006. The Compendium of Actions, now known as the Hashimoto Action Plan (HAP), after the late Chairman of the Advisory Board, was designed to strengthen the capacity of the key players engaged in the water and sanitation sector, thereby helping to achieve the water and sanitation targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Global Partnership’s strategic objectives are:

2. To engage in advocacy for WOPs in appropriate national, regional and international fora;

3. To facilitate and support regional, sub-regional and national mechanisms for improving public water utilities;

4. To provide web-based and other platforms to facilitate information collection, analysis and dissemination; and

1. To position the GWOPs Alliance as an effective and functional global mechanism for regional, sub-regional and national Water Operators Partnerships supported by a coalition of agencies;

5. To host, promote and support a range of events that are directed at meeting the demands/needs of alliance members.

Johannesburg WorkshopTo generate a continent-wide dialogue on the operationalization of the Water Operators Partnership (WOP) in Africa, a workshop was held from 24th-26th April 2007. Ninety-six (96) participants representing 70 water utilities from 30 countries in Africa met at the Headquarters of Rand Water in Johannesburg 2007 to deliberate on the operationalization of the Water Operators Partnership (WOP) in Africa. This workshop was a follow-up to the Capacity Building Workshop organized jointly by UN-DESA and UN-HABITAT in Nairobi, Kenya, from 6-8 December 2006.

The main objectives of the Johannesburg workshop were:

To determine the best structure for utility-to-utility partnerships;

To agree on the WOP-Africa operational framework; and

To map out short and medium-term action plans for the WOP-Africa.

To validate the idea of more intensive & systematic exchanges to improve performance & to accelerate progress towards the MDGs;To identify five key themes with a clear focus and potential impact that may be addressed through WOP-Africa;


Utility ownershipThe ownership by utilities will be realized by placing the WOP-Africa Program (WOP-AFRICA) under the structures of the African Water Associations (specifically AfWA and ESAR/IWA) and by the fact that specific WOP-Africa sub-programs and projects will be anchored in utilities. The initial work program will be focused on a limited number of activities and themes of direct interest to utilities. The concept of water operator also encompasses asset holding companies and regulatory institutions. Further the WOP-Africa shall be open to all service providers regardless of ownership structures. This therefore includes public as well

as private operators; municipalities; bulk as well as retail suppliers; and NGOs involved in services to the urban poor.

1. To improve data collection, benchmarking and regional monitoring

2. To share regional knowledge

3. To develop a Training Network

4. To develop ownership among utilities

5. To establish the Secretariat

1.1 Implement a self-assessment questionnaire to identify the most promising areas for learning and peer support

1.2 Liaise with IBNET through AfWA and IWA/ESAR

2.1 Develop a database and ‘dating service’

2.2 Build on existing networks for information dissemination

3.1 Help build partnerships among African utilities for capacity building

3.2. Training Network to be led by interested utilities

4.1 Three sub-regional workshops to validate self-assessment results

5.1 Further refinement of the funding arrangements

Strategic Objectives Sub-programs

Overarching goalWOP-Africa will support African countries in their efforts to achieve universal coverage for water and sanitation services with the MDGs

as a common benchmark.

VisionWOP-Africa is a program owned and driven by utilities and open to all stakeholders engaged in urban water and sanitation

services.

MissionWOP Africa will foster the development and the improvements of WSS services through increased collaboration between water operators for advocacy, learning, networking and support

partnerships among peers.

the vision, mission and goals


The African utilities participating in the Johannesburg workshop agreed to guide the Water Operators Partnership in Africa along the following principles:

1. Bringing together and supporting existing networks, partnerships and organizations, with a prime

focus on utilities;

2. Fostering systematic and structured knowledge-sharing drawing on regional and global experience and

involving peer-support partnerships;

3. Responding to the expressed needs of participating utilities and stakeholders;

4. Bringing stakeholders together and organizing activities at the most appropriate levels considering

commonalities and cost effectiveness;

5. Commitment to the development and mobilization of regional capacity, in particular, resource centers and

learning and research institutions in Africa;

6. Ensuring transparency, accountability and effectiveness in interactions among partners;

7. Ensuring a not-for-profit financial structure that uses sound business practices consistent with the principles

of the Global WOP; and

8. Ensuring a coherent financing plan that addresses the continuity of the Secretariat and provides the visibility

necessary for sound planning.

theprinciples


WOP-Africa will seek to address the following five priority themes for learning and sharing. These themes were agreed upon during the Johannesburg Workshop:

Management Information SystemsThe aim is to assist utilities to establish or strengthen management information systems necessary for monitoring and evaluation purposes, performance assessments and benchmarking exercises aimed

at continuous improvement of services.

Services to the PoorThe focus will be to strengthen pro-poor policies & strategies that clearly define financing and operational mechanisms and tariffs that ensure equitable provision of services to all urban residents. There will be a strong focus on sanitation

for less socio-economically advantaged areas.

WSS/MDGs RoadmapThe aim is to support water operators in developing WSS/MDGs roadmaps with the long-term planning and financing arrangements that will accelerate progress towards the achievement of MGDs. WOP-Africa will facilitate information exchanges between operators to encourage the transfer of best practices in terms of sector-based approaches to roadmaps and poverty reduction.

Human Resources Development & Capacity BuildingIn order to foster a vibrant water sector, human resource development must be a top priority. The skill levels and the number of skilled people engaging in the sector needs to increase dramatically and to be spread out amongst all the organizations and groups involved in the sector. To this end, WOP- Africa will catalyze and encourage utility-to-utility exchange of know-how in priority learning and capacity building areas of the sector. Furthermore, the north-south water operator dialogue will be widened to permit twinning of utilities with the aim of enhancing

capacity transfer between utilities.

Infrastructure Development and Asset ManagementUtilities have asked for support in developing their infrastructure and managing their assets. WOP Africa will support utilities in establishing design standards and criteria, particularly for extending services to informal settlements. WOP-Africa may also support the development and implementation of sound asset management plans with clear separation of operational and

ownership roles and responsibilities.

priority themes


Building on the leadership of existing networksAfWA and ESAR/IWA are ultimately responsible for the following: (i) operationalizing WOP-Africa; (ii) providing strategic leadership; (iii) promoting WOP-Africa among their members; (iv) enlisting the support of partners; (v) defining the institutional framework for the Secretariat; and

(vi) overseeing WOP-Africa’s operations.

The Regional CouncilAfWA and IWA-ESAR will set up a Regional Council (RC) to bring together key stakeholders. The RC’s role will be to provide strategic guidance, provide feedback, foster collaboration among participating utilities and facilitate relationships with partners and funding. The Regional

Council will meet on an annual basis. The membership of the RC will include representatives from

the following:

• African Water Associations (specifically AfWA and ESAR/IWA)

• Regional organizations (AMCOW, ADB/AWF)

• Regional NGOs

• International/regional actors: (UN-HABITAT, WSP, EU plus

supporting donors)

• Utilities engaged in the implementation of specific activities

The Program Committee The Interim Program Committee (PC) comprises AfWA, ESAR-IWA, UN Habitat, AfDB, WSP and the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW), an International NGO. The PC is an organ of the Regional Council established to oversee and support the Secretariat. With a more limited membership than the RC, the PC will define the Program strategy and oversee its activities. The PC will review annual work programs and budgets as well as annual reports and will monitor the follow-up of the recommendations of the Regional Council. The PC will meet on an “as needed” basis at least twice a year.

The PC will be chaired by AfWA. Its membership will also include representatives from ESAR/IWA, utilities directly involved in the WOP Program, UN-Habitat, WSP-AF and NGOs.The PC will establish task forces and seek advice from

the structure

members and external experts and consultants as needed to help define, implement and evaluate the WOP Program.

The Secretariat AfWA and ESAR/IWA have agreed that the Secretariat will be hosted by Rand Water and will be supervised by the Program Committee. However, the Program Committee will oversee the operations of the PCSU.

The Secretariat will be responsible for the following “core” functions:• overall planning, coordination and monitoring;

• fund raising and financial planning;

• liaisons with Global WOP;

• communication and dissemination (web site and other

mediums); and

• demand-based TA and support to help partners prepare sub-

programs/projects.

IWA-ESAR is the regional branch of the Internation Water Association, the premier global professional membership organization of water and sanitation utilities, member in 20 African countries, including active national Water Associations in 15 countries of Eastern and Southern Africa.

AfWA was established in 1980 as an International NGO (formally known as Union Africaine des Distributeurs d’Eau).Since 1996 it has expanded its membership beyond West and Central Africa and has reached out to Anglophone countries. It currently has 70 water utility members from 26 African countries.

�0 The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica

Management, Hosting and GovernanceThe Secretariat will be established to manage the affairs of WOP-Africa and will be initially hosted at Rand Water for three years starting in 2008. The Coordinator will report to the Program Committee but also follow some operational policies of the host institution - RAND Water.

The Program Committee will be responsible for setting the strategic direction and providing advice on the associated work plan. The Programme Committee will be responsible to the Regional Council which shall meet at least once a year and will bring together all of the member utilities. As often as possible, the PC meetings will be held in conjunction with other regional meetings in order to reduce the costs associated with travel.

The Secretariat will report to the Program Committee on performance/progress of the WOP-Africa work plan which is

currently being finalized.

the direction

WOP AFRICA Council(overall strategic and guidlines, program review, advocacy)

Program CommitteeAfWA & ESAR-IWA, UN Hab, WSP, NGOs

BP, WP-budgets, annual reports, audits, etc.

SECRETARIAT (PCSU) Rand-Water (Joburg) - Planning, coordinating - communication, links with Global WOP - resource mobilization - TA & supportWOP

PlatformData base &

Dating services

Comprehensivepeer support

program

Punctual support

FundingSources

TrainingNetwork

Pro-Poor

Bench-marking

The Secretariat will be headed by a Program Coordinator with a minimum complement and the possibility of additional staff seconded from utilities. Capacity will be built progressively. Once the initial program has been defined on the basis of coherent principles, the Secretariat could be decentralized but it should be managed along the same principles.

Membership of WOP-AfricaMembership is open to all public and private water supply and/or sanitation operators in Africa. Other types of institutions engaged with water and sanitation related services (regulators, asset holding companies and civil society organizations) are also encouraged to join.

Figure 1: Structure, Staffing and Management Team

The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica ��The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica

WOP-Africa core staff

WOP-Africa Secretariat (establishment

and running expenses)

Organisation of annual RC and PC

meetings

Operational support for the 5 priority

themes

Subtotal

Miscellaneous (10% of total)

TOTAL

480,000

120,000

30,000

3,000,000

3,630,000

363,000

3,993,000

480,000

100,000

30,000

3,000,000

3,610,000

361,000

3,971,000

480,000

100,000

30,000

3,000,000

3,610,000

361,000

3,971,000

1,440,000

320,000

90,000

9,000,000

10,850,000

1,085,000

11,935,000

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

TOTAL(Y1,2,3)

ITEM 1st YEAR 2nd YEAR 3rd YEAR

Funding sources shall originate from the following

sources:

Utilities themselvesThe Secretariat will develop a strategy for utility

contributions to WOP-Africa.

External Support Agencies (Donors)External supporters include partners to the WOP-Africa such as UN-Habitat, WSP-AF, AfDB and the African Water Facility (AWF). External support from these partners and other donors will be based on a clear business plan developed by the Secretariat.

Budgeting CycleIt is intended that a three-year budgeting cycle will be used by the WOP-Africa. Subsequent budgets will be prepared on the basis of a three-year rolling plan. The total budget for the first three years of operation is US$ 11.935 million.

the budget

A summary breakdown (USD) of the budget is provided in the table below:

Funding StrategyThe Water Operators Partnership in Africa will use funds from a variety of sources. The following two measures are needed to maintain focus and coherence:

a pooling mechanism within the African Water Facility (AWF); and ensuring that the Secretariat has adequate capacity to help partners prepare proposals.

The WOP-Africa is established for the benefit of Water Operators in Africa. Therefore, utilities in Africa shall take responsibility to ensure that the Secretariat has adequate financial resources.

�� The Water Operators Par tnersh ip - Af r ica

Contacts:

Eastern & Southern Africa Region of the International Water Association (ESAR-IWA)Hamanth Kasan, ChairmanRand WaterP.O. Box 1127Johannesburg, South AfricaTel: (27-11) 6820968Fax: (27-11) 6820793E-mail: [email protected]: www.iwahq.com

African Water Association (AfWA)Sylvain Usher, General Secretary05 B.P. 1910 Abidjan, Ivory CoastTel: (225) 21241443Fax: (225) 21242629E-mail: [email protected]: www. afwa.-hq.org

UN-HabitatBert DiphoornDirector (Ag)Human Settlements Financing DivisionUnited Nations Human SettlementsP.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, KenyaTel: (254-20) 7625420Fax: (254-20) 7623588E-mail: [email protected]: www.unhabitat.org

WSP-AfricaDennis MwanzaUrban Team Leader, AfricaP.O. Box 30577-00100Nairobi, KenyaTel: (254-20) 3226315Fax: (254-20) 3866120E-mail: [email protected] : www.wsp.org

BUILDING THE WATER OPERATORS PARTNERSHIP …...WOPs are based on the premise that establishing...

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