.:: AquaFed® ::.

Welcome to the Website of AquaFed^® - The International Federation of Private Water Operators.

AquaFed® is an association set up to connect international organisations with private sector providers of water and sanitation services. It does this on the international scene, representing the operators through direct membership or through their national associations. AquaFed membership is open to all privately controlled companies irrespective of their size or location. To read more about AquaFed, please consult our Institutional Brochure.

AquaFed® has been recognized as the the voice of the private water industry vis-à-vis international organisations.

AquaFed^® brings together over 300 water service providers operating in 40 countries worldwide.

The Federation was created in 2005.
A small team of professionals is based in Brussels and Paris.

NEWS

– May 2009

- AquaFed participates in the 6th FEMIP Conference on "Sustainable Water Financing and Climate Change in the Mediterranean".

The conference is organised in Monaco, May 10-11 2009, by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Principality of Monaco.
Gérard Payen will deliver a speech detailing private operators’ contributions to bringing more efficiency to the water and sanitation sector.

More information on http://www.eib.org/projects/events/6th-femip-conference,-monaco.htm?lang=en

–April 29, 2009

- Contribution by AquaFed to the “Sanitation Consultation”, organised by the United Nations’ Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque.

The consultation was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 29, 2009. Thomas van Waeyenberge presented the AquaFed contribution: “Advancing the Right to Sanitation” (PDF, Weblink ).

For more information, consult the Independent Expert’s website: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/water/Iexpert/index.htm . Other stakeholder contributions are available at the following address: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/water/Iexpert/contributions.htm

World Water Day 2009

As a proud Friend of UN-Water, AquaFed invites you to partake in worldwide activities at the occasion of March 22, 2009: World Water Day! Check out this year's website at http://www.worldwaterday09.info or consult the http://www.unwater.org portal.

- “Real Water Divides have been bridged”: Press Release by AquaFed on the Conclusion of the 5th World Water Forum (English, PDF; French, PDF)

– March 2009

- The Federation participates in the 5th World Water Forum

AquaFed participates in the 5th World Water Forum, March 16-22 2009 in Istanbul; Turkey (http://www.worldwaterforum5.org). The theme is "Bridging Divides for Water". AquaFed is involved at various levels:
-	March 18, 2009: AquaFed Press Release: "Bridging the real water divide between haves and have-nots. More ambition, more projects, no limitations that slow progress" (English PDF; French PDF; Turkish PDF)
-	AquaFed is a member of "Business Action for Water" (BAW - http://www.businessactionforwater.org/). Initially developed and rolled-out for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in 2004 and 2005, this renewed version of Business Action for Water aims to both represent business at the Forum and be the platform to facilitate business input.
-	AquaFed is part of the Theme 5 Finance Coordination Group and Topic Coordinator for Topic 5.1. - "Sustainable Local Finance". More information from the Virtual Meeting Space of the World Water Forum.
-	Quotes by Gérard Payen (PDF)
-	March 18, 2009: AquaFed organised Session 5.1.1. - "Financial Sustainability: Importance, progress and emerging issues." Presentation by Gérard Payen: "Progress since the Camdessus Panel and the Gurria Task Force" (PDF) Session 5.1.1. Final Scoping Document (PDF) Preliminary Conclusions (PDF)
-	For more information and press inquiries please contact the AquaFed team in Istanbul: Thomas van Waeyenberge: +32 (0)479 23 78 26 (Cell) or +90 (0)53 53 60 14 22 (during the Forum)
-	March 18, 2009: Presentation by Gérard Payen in session 4.2.2.: "Optimising Public and Private Roles in managing water and sanitation service" (PDF)

- AquaFed has prepared the following new briefing papers

-	Key Messages by the Federation for the World Water Forum (PDF)
-	What Operators Do and Do Not Do (PDF)

AquaFed Analysis of two landmark reports on the positive contributions of private sector participation

The Federation presents an initial analysis of two major World Bank reports that validate private sector contribution for access to water and sanitation goals: (PDF). Both Marin (2009) and Gassner (2008) show that private operators are making a real contribution to serving people, supporting and helping governments. Furthermore, the reports show that Private Sector participation to water services is growing steadily in developing countries and delivers.