Municipal leaders, service providers and civil society representatives from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam met for a two-day workshop in Bangkok on September 20-21, 2006 to draft a regional action agenda that will identify solutions for addressing constraints and challenges in expanding water services to the urban poor.

Specifically, the regional agenda identified solutions for addressing constraints and challenges related to ineffective enabling conditions (e.g., inappropriate tariff structures, strict land tenure requirements, rigid service models), misconceptions on the willingness of the poor to pay for piped water, limited awareness among key decision-makers and service providers, limited access to necessary financial resources and disproportionate impacts on women.

Organized by USAID through ECO-Asia, in cooperation with the Southeast Asian Water Utilities Network (SEAWUN) and the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) of Thailand, the workshop enabled the participants to exchange views on constraints and successful models in providing adequate safe drinking water to the urban poor, based on preliminary findings of a rapid assessment of model solutions that have proven effective in Asia.

Widespread migration to urban centers throughout Asia is placing tremendous stress on urban water supplies, with a disproportionate impact on the poor and women. Improving access to clean water for the urban poor is among the highest priorities facing Asian decision-makers, who are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by halving by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

The poor represent the vast majority of underserved urban populations. Though studies show a high willingness among the poor to pay for piped water at standard consumer rates, governments and water service providers continue with low tariff and subsidy policies that limit investment in new systems. Aside from the misconception that the poor are unable to pay for piped water services, other constraints include: land tenure, weak corporate governance and incentives, limited awareness among key decision-makers and service providers, ineffective service models, limited access to necessary financial resources, and disproportionate impacts on women.

With USAID’s support, Asian water services providers, local and national governments, civil society, financial institutions and communities in India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka are piloting innovative solutions in meeting the water needs of the urban poor.

According to Richard Whelden, the Acting Director for USAID’s Regional Programs for Asia located in Bangkok, “to develop new models for reaching the poor, progressive service providers must view citizens of poorer communities not as liabilities, but as valued customers who can pay for piped water. Changing perceptions and awareness is a critical first step in these efforts.”

Based on results from the ECO-Asia pilots being implemented in selected cities in India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, USAID will disseminate findings and facilitate regional cooperation with other cities in the region.