Introduction
Realizing the Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation (MDG 7c) is a huge challenge, in a great part of the world. Public water utilities can play a signifi cant role in order to achieve those MDGs, by sharing their know how and experience with colleagues in a deprived situation. The Netherlands is one of the countries that has a long tradition of sharing know how on solving water related problems by international peer to peer twinning on a solidarity basis. This type of peer to peer cooperation between water utilities was later called Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOP).
The former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and the Chair of UNSGAB. His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, initiated the founding of the Global Waters Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) to promote and to support Water Operators’ Partnerships world wide. GWOPA was launched in January 2009. The concept of WOPs is based on exchanging know how on the daily routine of managing integrated water aiming at capacity development and on a not for profi t principle. Through capacity development water utilities are able to develop themselves into well performing water operators. These are water operators capable to supply drinking water and sanitary provisions to all the people in their concession area in a safe water environment. The ultimate goal is to develop these utilities into excellent performing water operators willing and prepared to share their know how with other utilities in the region. Champions are created with a cascading effect of “each one teach one” as result.
This conference offers the opportunity to reflect on the experiences with Water Operators’ Partnerships. What do the supported partners value in this collaboration? Do they perceive this type of partnerships as an effective means to improve the drinking water and sanitation situation in their countries? Do they consider WOPs the most effective and sustainable way of achieving MDGs? Let us listen to each other and learn.
