PUBLICATION | Water Operator Partnerships and Solidarity - A global effort to realise the human right to water and sanitation
A new publication by Aqua Publica Europea presents the concrete contribution of its members to realisation of the human right to water and sanitation through not-for-profit Water Operators Partnership.
On the occasion of the recent launch of the (much awaited) new EU WOP Programme, Aqua Publica Europea - the European association of public water operators - publishes today “Water Operator Partnerships and Solidarity - A global effort to realise the human right to water and sanitation”. Drawing on a series of case-studies involving the members of Aqua Publica, the publication describes the concrete contribution that Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs) can make to the realisation of the human right to water and sanitation across the world.
By supporting the transfer of knowledge and skills from one utility to another needing guidance or assistance, WOPs are an effective tool to enhance the performance of the beneficiaries, thus ultimately improving the quality of the services they provide to citizens. The non-for-profit nature of the partnership then ensures that the knowledge-transfer really responds to the needs of the beneficiaries, with the unique purpose to enable them to find their own solutions to local problems instead of continuing relying on external (expensive) expertise.
In the midst of a pandemic emergency that has proved once again the importance of universal access to essential services to ensures collective health and well-being, the new EU WOP Programme will complement local and national initiatives and will help catalyse resources and efforts towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. As Joakim Giacomoni - Head of International and Public Affairs at SIAAP (Paris’ sanitation operator) - states in his preface “We are confident that this programme, on the one hand, will have beneficial effects on other EU development policies aimed to increase access to water and sanitation and, on the other hand, will help mobilise new utilities from new European countries in the solidarity effort”.
With this new publication, the members of Aqua Publica express their appreciation for the European Commission’s decision to support the development of public services’ capacities across the world for the benefit of all, and they look forward to getting involved in the new Programme, based on their expertise and their experience in international solidarity projects.
Download the publication below.