Water, poverty and donorsWater, poverty and donors

Kurt Mørck Jensen, Senior Adviser Kurt Mørck Jensen, Senior Adviser

Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs/DanidaDanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Danida

Global water-poverty policies Global water-poverty policies and strategiesand strategies

• Are they a common denominator for joint Are they a common denominator for joint donor action at country and program level?donor action at country and program level?

• Are they translated into common Are they translated into common understanding/agreement between understanding/agreement between governments, civil society and other governments, civil society and other stakeholders at country or program level?stakeholders at country or program level?

• Is the devil in the details?Is the devil in the details?

Global context for water Global context for water policiespolicies- to which all subscribe- to which all subscribe• Water and Sanitation Decade 1980-1990Water and Sanitation Decade 1980-1990• Dublin and Rio 1992Dublin and Rio 1992• World Bank Water Resources Policy 1993, 2003World Bank Water Resources Policy 1993, 2003• Global Water Partnership 1996Global Water Partnership 1996• World Water Council 1996World Water Council 1996• World Water Forums 1997-2006World Water Forums 1997-2006• UN Millennium Declaration 2000UN Millennium Declaration 2000• Johannesburg WSSD 2002Johannesburg WSSD 2002• UN CSD 12 and 13 2004 and 2005UN CSD 12 and 13 2004 and 2005• UN MDG Water Task Force Report 2005UN MDG Water Task Force Report 2005• Water and Sanitation Program 1979-2006Water and Sanitation Program 1979-2006

Global policies trickle downGlobal policies trickle down

French Senate Supports the "Right to French Senate Supports the "Right to Water”Water” August 30, 2006August 30, 2006

Within the framework of the examination Within the framework of the examination of the new French water bill, Senators of the new French water bill, Senators have adopted an amendment sanctioning have adopted an amendment sanctioning the "right to water", as defined during the the "right to water", as defined during the 4th World Water Forum of Mexico City in 4th World Water Forum of Mexico City in March 2006. March 2006.

Poverty-Environment Poverty-Environment Partnership 2001 Partnership 2001 Donor policy Donor policy documents:documents:

• Poverty and Env. Management 2001Poverty and Env. Management 2001

• Poverty and Climate Change 2003Poverty and Climate Change 2003

• Poverty Env. Fiscal Reform 2005Poverty Env. Fiscal Reform 2005

• Poverty and Water Management 2006Poverty and Water Management 2006

Other environment-water-poverty policy Other environment-water-poverty policy papers by DfID, EC, UNDP and the World papers by DfID, EC, UNDP and the World BankBank

””Poverty and Water Poverty and Water Management” Management” Key lessons and Key lessons and messages:messages:

• Good water management can Good water management can simultaneously reduce poverty and simultaneously reduce poverty and support developmentsupport development

• Doing the right infrastructure is importantDoing the right infrastructure is important

• Finding the finance is crucialFinding the finance is crucial

• Achieving the sanitation targets is difficultAchieving the sanitation targets is difficult

””Poverty and Water Poverty and Water Management” Management” Contentious Contentious policy areas:policy areas:

• Water as an economic and social Water as an economic and social good good

• Water as a human right Water as a human right

• Balance between environmental and Balance between environmental and economical/social objectives economical/social objectives

””Poverty and Water Poverty and Water Management” Management” The role of The role of IWRMIWRM

• National IWRM plans by 2005 – WSSD targetNational IWRM plans by 2005 – WSSD target

• IWRM as commonly agreed approach, strategic IWRM as commonly agreed approach, strategic framework and with operational details in framework and with operational details in GWP’s Tool BoxGWP’s Tool Box

• But there are many IWRM interpretations: But there are many IWRM interpretations: planning mechanism – mechanism for planning mechanism – mechanism for stakeholder participation and water governancestakeholder participation and water governance

Poverty and Water Poverty and Water Management” Management” Policies for reform: Policies for reform: ”…defining an ”…defining an agenda for governments of the agenda for governments of the developing world…”developing world…”• Integrate water in MDG-based PRSIntegrate water in MDG-based PRS• Reduce fragmentation through IWRMReduce fragmentation through IWRM• Strengthen local governmentStrengthen local government• Clarify rights and entitlements of stakeholders Clarify rights and entitlements of stakeholders

and adjust these to ”contemporary realities”and adjust these to ”contemporary realities”• Create enabling environment/regulatory Create enabling environment/regulatory

framework for investmentsframework for investments• Advocacy and awareness-raisingAdvocacy and awareness-raising

””Poverty and Water Poverty and Water Management”Management”- - the good storythe good story• Bi- and multilaterals and NGOs sign on Bi- and multilaterals and NGOs sign on

to a broad policy documentto a broad policy document

• The document reflects lessons learned The document reflects lessons learned and contentious, unresolved areasand contentious, unresolved areas

• The document serves to maintain The document serves to maintain vigilance in implementing internat. vigilance in implementing internat. commitmentscommitments

• The document is a wake-up call or………The document is a wake-up call or………

””Poverty and Water Poverty and Water Management”Management”- - the bad storythe bad story

• … … or is it a sleeping pill?or is it a sleeping pill?• Is it ’SOS’ based on ’cut-and-paste’ and Is it ’SOS’ based on ’cut-and-paste’ and

copying others?copying others?• Does it really help developing countries Does it really help developing countries

and the poor?and the poor?• Should donors ”…define the agenda for Should donors ”…define the agenda for

governments of the developing world…”?governments of the developing world…”?• How many politically correct documents How many politically correct documents

do we need?do we need?

Consensus on global policies Consensus on global policies and strategies is easy - turning and strategies is easy - turning them into practise is difficultthem into practise is difficult

• CG meetingsCG meetings• PRSP processPRSP process• Sector reformSector reform• Sector support - SWAPSector support - SWAP• Basket funding Basket funding • Policy details and conditionalities - paying Policy details and conditionalities - paying

for water, privatisation, etc.for water, privatisation, etc.

Consensus on global policies Consensus on global policies and strategies is easy - turning and strategies is easy - turning them into practise is difficultthem into practise is difficult

• Weak states – strong statesWeak states – strong states• Work at country levelWork at country level• Work at river basin levelWork at river basin level• Work at program and project level Work at program and project level

• The IWRM Tool Box is a good help (design, good The IWRM Tool Box is a good help (design, good practices etc.) but needs to be supported by recurrent practices etc.) but needs to be supported by recurrent analysis of emerging problems and challenges. analysis of emerging problems and challenges.

Consensus on global policies Consensus on global policies and strategies is easy - turning and strategies is easy - turning them into practise is difficultthem into practise is difficult

• Challenge 1Challenge 1: Consensus between donors at the : Consensus between donors at the national, program, etc. level can be difficultnational, program, etc. level can be difficult

• Challenge 2:Challenge 2: Consensus between stakeholders at the Consensus between stakeholders at the national and local level is complicated and may never national and local level is complicated and may never be fully solved be fully solved

• Challenge 3:Challenge 3: Few water professionals (practitioners, Few water professionals (practitioners, policy makers, researchers) translate policies and policy makers, researchers) translate policies and research results into practice and ’get their hands dirty’research results into practice and ’get their hands dirty’

From policy to practise: the From policy to practise: the Mekong River and the Mekong Mekong River and the Mekong River CommissionRiver Commission

• Policy agreement among donors, between Policy agreement among donors, between donors and MRC, between countriesdonors and MRC, between countries

• Four very different countriesFour very different countries• IWRM and stakeholder involvementIWRM and stakeholder involvement• Thailand vs. VietnamThailand vs. Vietnam• Infrastructure investments vs. poor Infrastructure investments vs. poor

peoples livelihoods and the environmentpeoples livelihoods and the environment

””National Interests and National Interests and TransboundaryTransboundary Water Water GovernanceGovernancein the Mekong” in the Mekong”

Sydney University, Australian Mekong Resource CentreSydney University, Australian Mekong Resource Centrehttp://www.mekong.es.usyd.edu.auhttp://www.mekong.es.usyd.edu.au

DanidaDanidahttp://water.dccd.cursum.nethttp://water.dccd.cursum.net