WASH News Finance
This blog contains news related to the financing of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in developing countries, collected by Cor Dietvorst, the editor of Source Weekly published by IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
OECD countries reaffirm commitments to open trade and aid
12 Dec 08
OECD countries [...] have reaffirmed their commitments on aid to developing countries. On November 24, 2008, at a meeting of the OECD’s Executive Committee in Special Session [...] DAC donors responded positively to a call from OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría and DAC Chair Eckhard Deutscher for adherence to an Aid Pledge designed to maintain development [...]
OECD Meeting Reviews Horizontal Water Programme on Sustainable Financing
12 Dec 08
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) convened a meeting on Financing and Pricing Water in the context of the recent Global Forum on Sustainable Development (1-2 December 2008) to look at the roles of government, the private sector and civil society in managing this key [...]
Suez launches Water for All Competition
11 Dec 08
The Suez Environnement - Water for All Foundation, under the auspices of Institut de France, has launched a competition for higher education or research institutions, which focuses on improving access to drinking water or sanitation services for urban populations in developing countries.This competition will reward two innovative projects designed to help improve access to drinking [...]
Guinea worm eradication: Carter Center gets US$ 55 million from Gates Foundation and DFID
08 Dec 08
On 05 December 2008, the Carter Center announced a new commitment of $40 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and $15 million Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) to push to end Guinea worm disease. The grant from the Gates Foundation is the largest challenge grant in Carter Center history. It includes an [...]
It’s Time to Get Rich in Water
08 Dec 08
[N]ew deals in the water sector are rampant.Increased demand, crumbling infrastructure, and now, the possibility of a second infrastructure-focused stimulus, have reignited interest in this sometimes seemingly cyclical sector.Millions of dollars are changing hands everyday.[Five] water headlines [of which four are from Asia] - from just three [consecutive] days [in December 2008] - plucked [...]
Sri Lanka: ADB Supports Water and Sanitation Improvements in Dry Zone
05 Dec 08
Key urban centers in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Northwestern Provinces are utilizing Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds to upgrade neglected and overstretched water and sanitation systems.ADB is providing a 32-year loan of $59.78 million and a grant of $23.22 million from the Asian Development Fund for the Dry Zone Urban Water and Sanitation Project which [...]
Pakistan, Sindh: ADB provides US$ 300 million loan to improve basic services in secondary towns
05 Dec 08
The Pakistan province of Sindh will improve [water supply, wastewater, and solid waste management infrastructure] in its secondary cities under a $300 million loan [in the form of a multitranche financing facility (MFF)] to the Sindh Cities Improvement Investment Program approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).[S]ix million people live in more than 20 secondary [...]
Gates Foundation pruning grant growth
03 Dec 08
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is scaling back planned growth in its grant making next year in response to the economic downturn, Chief Executive Jeff Raikes said Friday [21 Nov 2008].In an open letter posted on its Web site, Raikes said the Gates Foundation would increase its payout by about 10 percent over 2008, [...]
The currency transaction tax: a bold idea for financing development.
03 Dec 08
Global problems require bold solutions and the Currency Transaction Tax (CTT) is one such idea, says a new briefing published by the Canadian-based North-South Institute . CTT is a small levy on foreign exchange transactions and that will be used to finance development projects. The authors of the briefing claim the tax would be easy [...]
Chile: Bachelet affirms law to exempt low-income families from basic service connection fees
02 Dec 08
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced a new law that exempts low-income homeowners [of homes costing under 750 UF = inflation-linked unit, US$24,117] from paying [UF 30] potable water and sanitation connection costs.The initiative will speed up coverage in non-urbanized areas by helping water and sanitation utilities expand their operations to areas that are not currently [...]
