Widespread migration to urban centers throughout Asia is placing tremendous stress on urban water supplies and sanitation services, with a disproportionate impact on the poor and women. Improving access to clean water and adequate sanitation for the urban poor is among the highest priorities facing Asian decision-makers, who are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015.  In support of the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, USAID works to ensure broadly accessible, reliable, and economically sustainable water and sanitation services as defined and measured by the MDGs.  

The Environmental Cooperation – Asia (ECO-Asia) Water and Sanitation Program, implemented by AECOM International Development, pilots and disseminates innovative strategies for expanding and sustaining access to services, especially to the urban poor, through partnerships with water and sanitation operators.  Program areas include: (1) water service delivery to the urban poor; (2) sustainable sanitation solutions; and (3) improved performance of water services utilities.


As part of this effort, ECO-Asia established the WaterLinks network in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the International Water Association to develop and support water operators partnerships.  WaterLinks activities include:

• Brokering and facilitating water operators partnerships
• Strengthening utility capacity through regional trainings and toolkits
• Disseminating best practices.

Water Operator Partnerships
Twinning activities include peer review, technical assistance in developing and implementing improved policies and practices, specialized on-the-job training, technology demonstrations and information exchange.  To structure the twinning partnerships, counterparts develop memoranda of understanding and work plans that identify specific commitments, activities, resources, timelines and tangible outcomes in terms of improved or expanded access.

Regional Capacity Building
ECO-Asia supports regional capacity building of Asian water and wastewater operators through the development and implementation of training programs and toolkits and applied research. As part of its capacity building efforts, ECO-Asia highlights the results of WaterLinks twinning partnerships through its training programs and toolkits.  Recent ECO-Asia outputs include the 10-Step Water and Sanitation Promotion Program Toolkit for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and The Manager’s Non-Revenue Water Handbook.