NEWS – January 27, 2010 - AquaFed’s contribution to the work of Catarina de Albuquerque,   the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.   Following last year’s focus on “Sanitation”, the Independent expert is conducting her research this year, under the terms of her mandate, on private sector participation in the provision of water and sanitation services http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/water/iexpert/private_sector_participation.htm. She will publish a report with her findings and recommendations by the summer of 2010.   - AquaFed has been invited to take part in these broad consultations and 3 representatives participated in the public consultation organised by the Independent Expert at the UN in Geneva on January 27, 2010. AquaFed’s President Gérard PAYEN was asked to deliver a keynote speech at this public hearing.  Download his “Introductory Remarks” (PDF) - AquaFed’s President Gérard PAYEN, also took part in the 2-day expert consultation workshop held in Geneva, January 25-26, 2010. The Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung will publish a report on their website: http://www.fes.de/   – October, 1st 2009   - AquaFed contribution to the work of Professor John Ruggie, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Business and Human Rights.   - AquaFed Submission: “Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) and the Right to Water - The case of the provision of public water supply and sanitation services”: (PDF or weblink). - AquaFed’s key finding: “The Bilateral Investment Treaty obligations of a State to protect the investment of foreign shareholders of a local water operator, are compatible with and beneficial to the needs of this State to respect, protect and fulfil the Right to Water in its national territory.” - The existence of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) enhances the ability of States to attract foreign expertise, technology and investment, thereby helping them to meet their obligations to implement the Right to Water. These BITs do not create any obligation that would prevent the States from organising the implementation of the Right to Water. In addition to this written submission, AquaFed was represented by MM. Jack Moss and Thomas Van Waeyenberge at the recent public consultation on Geneva (October 5-6, 2009: webpage) organised for Professor Ruggie by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.   – September 2009   - New World Bank's findings on water supply by private operators in developing countries. For the first time, the contribution of private operators to providing safe drinking water in developing countries is assessed globally. The World Bank report shows that overall local and international private companies deliver much more benefit to the populations and governments of developing countries than is generally recognised. (AquaFed Press Release in EN, FR, ESP). Visit the World Bank webpage for the document “Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities”, P.Marin, World Bank, PPIAF, Trends & Policy options n°8, February 2009 http://www.ppiaf.org/documents/trends_and_policy/PPPsforUrbanWaterUtilities-PhMarin.pdf   – 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 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.

AquaFed participates in the "Water Tribune" ("Tribuna del Agua" )during the Expo Zaragoza 2008, in particular during the 5th Thematic week (July 15-18, 2008) - Water Services for Supply and Sanitation
For more information, visit http://www.expozaragoza2008.es.

• Download Thomas van Waeyenberge's presentation from August 5, 2008: "The Right to Water and Sanitation" Status Quaestionis.Viewpoints on the International debate by Private Water Operators as compenents of civil society" (pdf)
• Download Gérard Payen's presentation from July 15, 2008: "Managing freshwater better. Private Operators contribute to Public Policies" (Presentation: pdf . Full text: pdf ).

• Our Documents page has been update to list various presentations made by AquaFed staff during the last months
• Our Membership page has been updated. AquaFed is proud to welcome China Water as our latest corporate member and ABCon - the Brazilian Federation of Private Water Operators as our latest national member.

AquaFed released a press release highlighting the private operators' contributions to the 2008 edition of Transparency International's 2008 Global Corruption Report .

• Download press release (ENG , FR ).
• For more information, please visit the Water Integrity Network (http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/ ).
• "The Global Corruption Report 2008, corruption in the water sector" is published by Transparency International (Report )

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development hosted its 16th session with a particular emphasis on the review of the CSD13 Decisions on Water and Sanitation.(website ). AquaFed has been the spokesperson organisation for the "Business and Industry Major Group" in the CSD process and delivered 8 public statements in May 12-16, 2008 session in New York.

• Summary - "Business & Industry Major Group : Key statements on water & sanitation", extracted from the various interventions (pdf)
• Download all 8 public statements and press releases in a zip-file (zip) (or individually from Documents section).

• ABCon, the Brazilian Association of Water and WasteWater providers as a national member
• Chinawater (website) as coporate members

May, 2008 - The « Documents section » has been updated and contains the Public Statements on behalf of the Major Group “Business and Industry” and the Press Release and Key Messages by AquaFed at the 16th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

February, 2008 - The « Documents section » has been updated and contains a new section titled “Key Industry Positions and Contributions to International Debates and Consultations”.
The Federation contributions to 2 ongoing debates at UN level have been posted:

• Practitioners’ Views on the Right to Water - AquaFed’s submission to the OHCHR study on human rights obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation(pdf1,pdf2).
               AquaFed contributed to the 2007 study by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights on human rights obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation and highlighted the need to address implementation challenges. The UN Human Rights Council will review the OHCHR report in its 7th Session in March 2008.
               
   
• 2005-2008 - Progress on CSD13 decisions on water and sanitation --- Perception of Private Water Operators (report).
               In May 2005, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development decided a list of “Policy options and practical measures to expedite implementation in water, sanitation and human settlements” and decided to review this action plan during their 2008 meeting (CSD 16, May 2008). AquaFed contributed to the UN report to this 2008 session by writing this document. It shows that no sign of the decided acceleration of progress towards the access to water and access to sanitation Millennium Development Goals could be detected yet.
  

• CHILE: Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Servicios Sanitarios A.G. – ANDESS (website):
               19 Private Water Operators serving 12 million people.
   
• UGANDA: Association of Private Water Operators in Uganda -APWO-Ug.
               11 Private Water Operators serving 0.6 million people.
  

• “Statement by Gérard Payen, President of AquaFed, on the Right to Water and the Role of Local Governments” during the World Water Forum Opening Roundtable, March 16, 2006.
   
• Press release: "Private Water Operators call to turn the Right to Water into a reality for all People", March 19, 2006