a. A new world organization "United Cities and Local Governments" is to be launched in January 2004

The name symbolizes the unification of the two largest international local government associations: the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA) and the United Towns Organization (UTO/FMCU). United Cities and Local Governments' mission is to be the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government. A dynamic, experienced professional is now sought to become the new Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments, and to lead and manage its Barcelona headquarters.

United Cities and Local Governments will be the interlocutor between local government and the United Nations, and will ensure the political representation of local government to the international community. It will progress local government policies in the key areas of decentralized cooperation, sustainable development, urbanization, social inclusion and poverty eradication. Importantly, it will support international cooperation between local governments and their associations, building on IULA and UTO's groundbreaking work in city-to-city cooperation, local government capacity building, local democracy and women in local decision-making. It will be the worldwide source of key information regarding local government, and a focal point for the international community.

The Founding Congress of United Cities and Local Governments will be held in Paris, in May 2004, with the theme 'Cities, Local Governments: the Future for Development'. It will be an important forum for both local governments and the international community, and over 2000 participants are expected. The event signals a new era for cities and local governments and the strengthening of the local voice at
international level.

For more information contact: iula@iula.org
Source: IULA website www.iula.org

b. Peru: Andean Region: Canadian Funding for improving Water and Sanitation
Services in Peruvian Small Towns

The Canadian Development Agency (CIDA) has approved the funding a three-year pilot project to be implemented by the Water and Sanitation Program - Latin America and the Caribbean Department of the World Bank - to support Peruvian small town dwellers to have access to quality and sustainable water and sanitation services.

It is expected, that the project will improve the health and living standards of the Peruvian small town inhabitants. To achieve these goals the WSP-LAC strategy includes the support to the sector institutions to develop national policies and regulations, and the technical assistance to district municipalities in the rehabilitation and strengthening of WSS, as well as, validating innovative management models.

The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) is an international partnership of the world's leading development agencies concerned with water and sanitation services for the poor. Its mission is to alleviate poverty by helping the poor gain sustained access to improved water and sanitation services. It is managed through a World Bank-based head office in Washington, D.C. and four regional offices in South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Andean Region. It operates in more than 30
countries, assisting local partners to overcome obstacles and to identify innovative solutions to problems of service provision in poor communities.

The Program's partnership approach encourages lessons to be shared across agency, country, and
regional boundaries and creates a momentum for global learning on critical themes.

Contact: Rafael Vera at wspandean@worldbank.org
Source: ACCESS e-newslewww.wsp.org/english/access/intro.html)

c. Update on PPIAF Activities & Portfolio

The Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) was launched in July 1999. At the end of its third year in operation (fiscal year ending June 30, 2002), the PPIAF portfolio covered 211 activities in more than 120 countries, for a total value of $48 million.

PPIAF funds a range of activities in eligible sectors and across all developing regions. This multi-donor technical assistance facility - Xinitiated jointly by the governments of Japan and the UK, working closely with the World Bank Group - Xaims to help developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development by channeling technical assistance to governments and by promoting best practices on issues related to private sector involvement in infrastructure in developing countries.

Primary donors to PPIAF are the UK, Japan, the World Bank Group, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Nations Development Program. Talks are also underway with a number of other bilaterals and regional development banks in the hopes of expanding and broadening the membership of PPIAF.

"The facility was a way to consolidate donors' interests in what is now becoming a mainstream activity for most of them," says the facility's Manager Russell Muir. "It is neither a general technical assistance fund, nor an infrastructure fund, but rather focuses specifically on private participation and how this will lead to improved infrastructure services."

For information on current PPIAF activities and projects go to:
http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/ppiaf/activity.nsf

d. ASIA: South Asian Action Network for Sustainable Development and Social
Justice

Action network for Sustainable Development and Social Justice providing two pages on water. One is Water and Our World, looking at water privatization and globalization. The other is Jal Sangh, AID wide study group on water. The basic mission of the group is to study the issues related to water in general and specifically to the issue of privatization of water in India. The page offers some links to water policy documents.

Water and Our World, www.saanet.org/Seattle-water/
Jal Sangh, www.saanet.org/water/index.html

Source: Source Weekly, No. 48-49

e. JAPAN: Building Partnerships for Development in Water and Sanitation (BPD)

Initiative of Building Partnerships for Development in Water and Sanitation (BPD).

The website provides 1) links to other resources on the Third World Water Forum and to initiatives that are particularly active in the run-up to Kyoto; 2) a set of short notes that elaborate the benefits (and risks) of being in partnership for the public, private and NGO sectors.

Web address: /www.bpd-waterandsanitation.org/english/kyotoportal.htm
Source: Source Weekly, No. 48-49

f. GHANA: water privatization raises fears that profits and development cannot marry

Lending institutions are putting pressure on developing countries to privatise their water sectors at a time when water is returning to public hands in the UK and US. While the government of Ghana feels that privatisation will improve water provision in Ghana, many civil-society groups envisage high water prices and profits placed before provision as a result. The international lending institutions pushing for the privatisation of public utilities is a dangerous development, according to a recent in-depth investigation into the proposed privatisation of the water sector in Ghana.

The independent report - spearheaded by Ghanaian research group Southern Links, but backed by Christian Aid money and bringing together delegates from the water sector and universities across Europe and the US - was presented in London's Royal Commonwealth Society in September 2002.Their findings raised some interesting points of concern, not just for the water sector in Ghana, but for water utilities everywhere and privatisation in general.

Contact: Sarah Simpson, sarah.simpson@wmrc.com
Source: Source Weekly, No. 48-49

g. EUROPE: PRIVATIZATION: promoting public-private partnerships for Third World water

Both French water multinational Suez/Ondeo and the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) have presented initiatives supporting public-private partnerships (PPP) for water supply in developing countries. Suez/Ondeo's Bridging the Water Divide programme includes the "Water for All" initiative, specifically targetting low-income communties.

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Netherlands said it wanted to support PPP water projects initiatives, especially in Africa. Building on this committment, the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) has submitted a preliminary proposal to the Dutch government for financial and political support towards a PPP for development progamme (P3SW) for water and wastewater projects in developing countries.

The programme would require an estimated EUR 30 million from the Dutch government and about EUR 60 million from private sector. NWP plans to present the final programme at 3rd World Water Forum.

Web address: Suez/Ondeo, Bridging the Water Divide, www.suez.com/popups/english/bataille.htm

Contact:
SUEZ - Water Resources Department, bridgingthewaterdivide@suez.com
NWP - info@nwp.nl
Source: Source Weekly, No. 50-52

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