Topic 2.4: Multiple uses and functions of water services

THEME 2

More MDGs per drop & dollar invested

T 2.4

• Preparatory meeting Addis Ababa Nov. 2008

• 2 main sessions and a wrap up

• well attended, well diversified participants and panelists

What is MUSF ?

MUSF is, by purpose or as a practice, the process of using within a system the same water for different uses and functions.

MUSF occurs at all scales of water systems: • water infrastructure • ecosystem, • household.

Common practices on irrigation systems

Common practices on wetlands systems

Functions associated to water systemsFlood protectionSocial, culturalEcosystem services

Common practices on Domestic systems

MUSF is innovation

• Innovation lies in how these uses and functions can be addressed as “services”

• Innovation Cost benefits and impacts on poverty are today not enough known

• Innovation hundred of millions hidden users and beneficiaries are left unaccounted

MUSF is user oriented

MUSF is a local and user-oriented service approach, applying IWRM principles based on integrated participatory assessment and planning of all water resources and need

Action, training and research activities

Countries with MUS Group members

MUSF impactsImproving services from 20 to 100 lpcd translates

into an additional $200-$400 for household of 5, above the health benefits

Investing in intermediate levels of service comes at a financial cost/benefit ratio of 3-8, even when considering additional transaction costs

Economies of scale in investments at community level

In paddy systems, value of other functions can be over 800 US$/ha

Over 1 billion people can benefit from new domestic multiple-use services, and upgrading service levels within existing domestic and irrigation systems

MUSF real opportunity for MDGs

• For food security, for domestic, but also for environment, for gender, and ultimately for all MDGs.

• Growing number of cases show MUSF is possible;

yet far from scaled-up, despite positive cost-benefit impacts and market.

• Not catering for multiple-use and functions is missed opportunity for poverty reduction and sustainability of water services: MUS costs less!

What are obstacles/solutions ?

• Governance; particularly local government and top of State

• Financing; joint financing between public and private

• Sectoral boundaries; beyond domestic and irrigation; also public and private sectors

• Institutional coordination

We shall overcome!• Water scarcity and financial crisis leave no choice

but for sectors to work together• Sustainability of MUSF can be high:

– Balance between incentives for investments by public and contribution of users themselves

– High return on investment with higher levels of service

– Better design (esp. for private sector)– Monitoring of performance of services and

environmental impact– appropriate sharing mechanisms and a

comprehensive remuneration of services

We shall overcome!

• Facilitated multi-stakeholder approaches: to strengthen institutions, rather than creating new ones

• Develop country visions and policy frame and promote local strategies with clear local context-specific demands!

Quotes from the wrap up panel

• Best planning is to plan for things that have already happened !

• MUSF is here to stay !

• MUSF happens in cities !

We have good news: a market of 1 billion, with high potential return

on investment and poverty reduction

Thank you