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Blue Revolution Initiative: Improving Water Management for Health, Prosperity and

Security in the Middle East and Asia

JOHN WILSON Deputy Director

Office of Technical SupportBureaus for Asia and the Middle East

U.S. Agency for International Development

World Water Forum presentation

March 20, 2009

Status of Water Resources in the Asia and the Middle East

• Lack of access to safe water

• Demand is growing

• Poor urban water management

• Lack of sanitation and treatment of wastes

• Weak transboundary water management

Lack of Access to Basic Sanitation

Water Demand is Growing

Economic Return from Water Use in Agriculture

Country

% Water Use by Agriculture

(2004)

% Contribution to GDP (2003)

% Employment in Ag(2004)

Egypt 82 16 32

Jordan 75 2 11

Morocco 89 17 35

India 92 22 59

Pakistan 97 23 46

Philippines 88 14 48

Vietnam 87 22 67

Poor Urban Water Management

Indicators Delhi Jakarta Manila Best Practice

Coverage (%) 69 51 58 100%

Non-revenue water (%)

53 51 62 < 20%

Average tariff (US$)

0.07 .29 .14

Working Ratio

2.45 .80 1.22 0.68

Staff/1000 connections (ratio)

19.9 5.3 4.4 4

Revenue collection efficiency (%)

70.4 98 97.3 100%

Weak Transboundary Water Management

• Some treaties and international basin organizations established in the region.

• Lack of coordination in water management planning and development

• Few systems in place for managing transboundary aquifers.

Challenges to Improving Water Management

• Poor enabling environment and weak regulation

• Widespread use of broad-based subsidies

• Weak institutional capacity and overlapping mandates

• Limited public sector and donor resources for new infrastructure

• Limited to no cooperation between countries on shared water resources management

Country Opportunities

• Augment water supplies

• More efficient use of water

• Improve return on water use in agriculture

• Improve water utility management

• Expand urban water/sanitation services

• Strengthen role and capacity of regulatory agencies

Regional Opportunities• Strengthen existing regional organizations (i.e. Nile Basin Secretariat,

Southeast Asia Water Utilities Network)• Support formation of new regional organizations (i.e. Arab Countries Water

Utilities Association)• Share good practices and lessons learned• Encourage/support dialog and improved management of shared waters

Blue Revolution Initiative: Ensuring broad-based access to water for security, prosperity, and health in the Middle East and Asia.

Objective 1:

Mitigate tensions

associated with shared

water

Objective 2:

Improve environmental management and economic productivity of

water resources

Objective 3:

Improve access and effective use of safe water

and sanitation

• Improved agreements promote better cooperation on shared waters

• Strengthened regional institutions and networks promote joint planning and water management

• Strengthened national mechanisms to support better regional water management

Objective 1: Mitigate tensions associated with shared water

• Reduced use of water for irrigation in water-short countries

• Increased water productivity in agriculture

• Increased alternative supplies of water

• Improved protection and management of surface and groundwater resources

Objective 2: Improve environmental management and economic productivity of water resources

• Increased mobilization of domestic financing for water infrastructure

• Improved effectiveness and regulation of utility operations

• Expanded public-private partnerships for improved household hygiene and sanitation

• Improved environmental sanitation in underserved urban areas

Objective 3: Improve access and effective use of safe water and sanitation

Blue Revolution InitiativeNext Steps

• Look forward and sustain the effort

• Reach out to other partners

• Create shared vision with governments and missions – consult, collaborate, be inclusive

• Be bold and take risks

• Build capacity of regional platforms – not establish new ones