Corporate News

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Vacancy Notice | Senior Advisor – 2030WRG Rwanda

Title: Senior Advisor – 2030WRG Rwanda
Organization: 2030 Water Resources Group/World Bank
Contract type: Short Term Consultant (STC)
Assignment expected to be completed within 50 working days
Recruitment Type: International or Local Recruitment
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Required Language(s): English
Closing Date: July 15, 2020

I. Background

2030 Water Resources Group

  • The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) is a public-private-civil society partnership that supports governments accelerate reforms with the aim to ensuring sustainable water resources management for the long-term development and economic growth of their countries.
  • 2030 WRG aims to accelerate water sector transformation with regard to water security for long-term economic growth, environmental as well as domestic needs and shared prosperity, with a focus on improved demand-side management involving public, private, and civil society stakeholders across agriculture, industry and urban development.
  • As of January 1, 2018, 2030WRG’s hosting arrangement transitioned to the World Bank’s Water Global Practice and had been previously been hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC, private sector arm of the World Bank Group).

2030 WRG Rwanda Engagement

  • June 2019, 2030 WRG was requested by World Bank Group and other stakeholders to assess the opportunity for 2030 WRG to engage in Rwanda. During a preliminary scoping mission, various meetings were held with development partners, private sector and government, and it was identified that 2030 WRG could play various roles, amongst them collaborating closely with Ministry of Environment and Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) to strengthen private sector engagement in water resources management.
  • Following the consultations in June 2019, a proposed engagement was presented in a Concept Note for discussion with the Government of Rwanda. The following initial intervention areas were identified: (i) Strengthen/establish a National Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Water Resources Management in Rwanda, (ii) undertake a Hydro-Economic Analysis for Rwanda and (iii) Establish and coordinate an Agricultural Water Management working group.
  • During the follow-up mission in March 2020, the mission team met with the RWB, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture among other actors. During the discussions, the RWB clarified its mandate as that of being a single coordination organ for Water Resources Management in Rwanda with full autonomy- which has been recently inaugurated under the Prime Minister’s Office. RWB welcomed 2030 WRG to collaborate closely and to support it achieving its mandate, which it fully aligns with 2030 WRG’s mandate.
  • RWB stressed the need to strengthen existing platforms related to water resources (not to establish new platforms) and to use the 2030 WRG-model to ensure those platforms are action-oriented. RWB also directed 2030 WRG to explore areas of interventions in agricultural water management, watershed management, water storage, water supply and sanitation.
II. Assignment Description

The vision of 2030 WRG Rwanda is to establish or strengthen existing multi-stakeholder platforms to increase public-private collaboration in sustainable water resources management. Hence, the objective of this assignment is to create a thorough understanding of the water resources landscape (stakeholders, platforms and ongoing initiatives and strategies) and identify the unique and complementary roles that 2030 WRG could play in strengthening the existing platforms. The Consultant is required to:

  1. Review existing platforms, initiatives and stakeholders that have a focus in coordinating activities related to water resources management, promote multi-stakeholder participation and/or aims to increase private sector engagement in sustainable water resources management;
  2. Take stock of ongoing projects and programs that promote private sector engagement in water resources management, their financing mechanisms, and identify opportunities for financing water resource projects by thematic area;
  3. Carry out a high-level risk assessment based on 2030 WRG Risk Assessment Guidelines;
  4. Based on the findings above, develop an Action Plan comprising of a Partnership Strategy and Operational Framework for 2030WRG’s engagement with the RWB in Rwanda. The Action Plan should define activities to strengthen the existing platform and jointly coordinate initiatives in collaboration with the RWB;
  5. Develop a Terms of Reference for Hydro- Economic Analysis for Rwanda.

Detailed Key tasks to be accomplished by the Consultant:

  1. Review of existing platforms/working groups and initiatives in Rwanda: with the ambition to identify how the 2030 WRG could support country-level collaboration to coordinate diverse groups with a common interest in sustainable water management, the Consultant is required to:
    • Identify and review existing platforms focusing on the objectives, mandates, activities, results and governance structures of the platforms.
    • Map relevant stakeholders within government institutions, private sectors, civil society organizations, development partners, donors and financial institutions amongst others, and identify relevant key actors to be engaged in operationalizing the vision of 2030WRG to strengthening the existing platforms in water resources management and supporting the achievements of the goals and mandates of RWB and 2030WRG.
    • Conduct a SWOT analysis for the primary stakeholders based on which areas could be identified where 2030WRG could leverage its model and expertise to strengthen and complement the RWB Platform. Using the SWOT analysis, recommend roles and responsibilities for different actors.
    • Describe key roles and responsibilities of the main players and their level of involvement with private sector to ensure water resources’ sustainability;
    • Review existing regional and global platform examples, bring in the best practices and tailor that to the Rwanda context. The consultant could tap into excising 2030 WRG platform knowledge (currently in 14 countries and states) but would also be encouraged to look into alternative sectors such as plastics and food-security.
    • Recommend an appropriate governance structure taking into consideration 2030WRG’s vision and ambition to collectively coordinate the existing platform in collaboration with RWB, to support RWB to play a stronger and more influential role in coordinating investments related to water resources use, management and conservation bringing together all water using sectors (agriculture, industry, infrastructure, environment and energy) and actors (government, private and civil society) in Rwanda.
    • Capacity Building. The Consultant shall make an inventory of capacity building and training needs for the RWB and come up with a proposal presenting a composition of formal and on-the-job training, which will allow the RWB to continue using the methods and tools developed as part of this 2030WRG partnership.
  2. Identify Private Sector opportunities: to strengthen the private sector in their efforts to develop more robust water risk and water stewardship practices. The Consultant is required to:
    • Take stock of ongoing strategies, initiatives, programs and projects that promote private sector engagement in water resources management and identify their financing mechanisms, gaps and opportunities for financing water resource projects, and unique roles that the private sector could play in a multi-stakeholder setting taking into consideration water-related sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, hydropower, water supply and sanitation etc.
    • Based on this assessment, identify potential and emerging thematic areas which 2030WRG will further explore in the Hydro-Economic Analysis for Rwanda (see iv). Examples of such opportunities are innovative financing models in water supply, waste-water treatment and reuse, multi-use water infrastructure, financing investment in irrigation expansion, watershed management, landscape restoration, etc.
  3. Risk Assessment: The 2030 WRG developed a Risk Assessment Guideline that is being used to assess the risk for new country engagements. Based on that Guideline, the Consultant is required to:
    • Provide the 2030 WRG team with a Risk Analysis for engagement in Rwanda, which will be used for internal purposes to develop a high-level risk mitigation strategy as part of the Partnership Strategy (see next point). Examples of risks to be identified are: financial, economic, social, political, reputational and environmental risks, amongst others.
  4. Develop an Action Plan, comprising of a Partnership Strategy and Operational Framework: based on task 1 and 2 above, the Consultant will closely work with the RWB to:
    • Develop a Partnership Strategy defining the objectives of the strengthened multi-stakeholder platform, its mandates, goals and objectives. Clearly articulate the roles of 2030WRG and RWB in their collaboration to coordinate this multi-stakeholder partnership, identifying any changes required in the governance structure to achieve these goals.
    • Develop a framework for improving the operationalization, communication and coordination of the multi-stakeholder platform taking into consideration the mandate of RWB and the unique and complementary role that 2030 WRG could play in strengthening this existing platform and also 2030WRG’s role in coordination of the agricultural water management working group.
    • Develop an Action Plan outlining necessary activities that 2030WRG and RWB need to undertake to achieve the partnership goals outlined in the strategy. The Action Plan, Partnership Strategy and Operational Framework should include clear timelines.
    • Based on the Action Plan, Partnership Strategy and Operational Framework, the 2030 WRG and RWB will develop a high-level Expression of Intent for further collaboration.
  5. Develop a Terms of Reference (ToR) or Concept Note for Hydro- Economic Analysis for Rwanda: RWB expressed the interest to be supported to develop a Hydro-Economic Analysis (HEA) for Rwanda. Generally, an HEA will contain (i) an overview of the countries water context to be used by policy makers for high-level decision making (including to review water practices of water use, water regulations, water opportunities and threats in Rwanda); (ii) water resources gap analysis and determination of social- economic impacts; (iii) concrete roles and investment opportunities for both the public and private sectors; (iv) The effects of climate change in water resources; and (v) Water resources in space and time (Rain, Surface and Groundwater), how much water in space and time? What quantity? What quality? Who manages it? What rules?
    • Based on previous deliverable, the Consultant is expected to develop ToR and Concept Note for the HEA for Rwanda based upon which an (international) Consultancy Firm could be selected to carry out the Analysis.

The Deliverables for this assignment

The consultant will be assessed on the following deliverables:

  1. Deliverable 1: Draft and submit an inception report
    • Timeline – within 2 weeks from contract signing
    • Content – report to include but not limited to a Workplan showing i) general approach/methodology to be used for this assignment (including high-level stakeholder’s analysis); ii) schedule of workshops, interviews, meetings etc.; and iii) timeline for planned activities;
  2. Deliverable 2: Submit a Draft report
    • Timeline – within 2-3 weeks from approval of inception report
    • Content – report to include but not limited to:
      • Water resources’ stakeholder mapping and review of existing platforms
      • Risk Assessment for 2030WRG engagement in Rwanda
      • Partnership Strategy – including the objectives of the strengthened multi-stakeholder platform, its mandates, goals and objectives
      • Operational Framework – indicating the operationalization, communication and coordination of the multi-stakeholder platform
      • Action Plan (outlining necessary activities that 2030WRG and RWB need to undertake to achieve the goals outlined in the Partnership Strategy)
      • ToR for the Hydro-Economic Analysis for Rwanda
  3. Deliverable 3: Final report – including activities described under “Draft report”

The assignment will be conducted between July to December 30th 2020, with a possible extension, and it is expected to be completed within 35 working days.

III. Supervision

The Consultant will work closely with the 2030 WRG team (led by Joy Busolo) and the RWB. Both organizations (2030 WRG and RWB) will provide inputs to and assess the assignment.

IV. Contract, communication and travel

The TTL for this assignment is Joy Busolo, Senior Water Resources Management specialist and Lead for 2030 WRG Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda. The Consultant will be hired on a World Bank STC (Short Term Consultancy) contract and the consultancy fee will be paid subject to World Bank policies and procedures and after acceptance of the deliverables.

The Consultant is expected to interact with the supervisor and other team members via email, video or phone. The Consultant will be required to travel to Kigali for stakeholder interviews, workshops and potentially at the time of finalizing the deliverables. Transportation will be booked and paid for by the 2030 WRG on behalf of the Consultant, meal and accommodation expenses will be paid to the Consultant according to World Bank travel regulations.

The Consultant is based in Rwanda or is expected to travel one or two times to Rwanda when travel restrictions are lifted and, in the meantime, make use of virtual connections to conduct interviews and undertake the assessment. Besides, the Consultant is expected to join regular calls of the 2030 WRG Rwanda team

V. Qualifications
  • The Consultant should have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Water Resources Management/water diplomacy, Private Sector Development or any other relevant academic experience and shall have demonstrated successful experience in similar works, Private Sector Development and Water Resources Management/water diplomacy
  • Above 12 years of experience in Water sector, Economic Development or Private Sector Management/Business Development, preferably in a multi stakeholder environment
  • The Consultant should be able to synthesize interviews and policy documents into a readable report and presentation
  • Excellent writing and research skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible attitude
  • Excellent organizational skills, team player, multi-tasking skills with strong sense of initiative and responsibility
  • Experience and knowledge of the Rwandan economical and water context is an asset.

Please submit your CV, motivation letter and list of references to jbusolo@worldbank.org by not later than July 15th 2020.

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50L Coalition: water conservation and reuse at the city-scale

With “Day Zero” looming over cities across the globe, rapid innovation is needed to make water use more sustainable. The “50L Home Coalition” is a public-private initiative, formed with the support of the World Economic Forum (the Forum), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and 2030 Water Resources Group.

Currently, average water use in developed countries can be as high as 500 liter per person. This initiative seeks to positively disrupt urban domestic water use and facilitate circular economy solutions, making 50 liter feel like 500 liter. The 50L Home coalition seeks to engage a broad set of partners to develop technical solutions, identify policy reforms and create conditions for an ecosystem of innovation. The coalition aims to launch pilot projects in 2 to 4 cities over 2020-2023. It fosters collaboration in the key areas of innovation, implementation, regulation and education.

2030 WRG’s engagement is geared towards the development of City-based Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs), developing an action agenda around water conservation and water re-use at the city scale.

Learn more about the coalition here >>

Read an article (on the World Economic Forum website) on the 50 Liter Home: Regenerative business: a roadmap for rapid change >>

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Better Together: Partnering for the IWET Project in Bangladesh

The Introducing Water-Efficient Technologies in Barind Tract (IWET) project was developed in 2018 as part of the 2030 WRG Bangladesh Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (MSP)’s workstream on agricultural water. A partnership between the 2030 WRG Bangladesh MSP, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP), the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), and the Dascoh Foundation, the IWET project sets out to enhance agro-water productivity, reduce groundwater extraction, and increase farmers’ income while focusing on the water-stressed North-West region and especially the Barind Tract.

The project invests on (i) the use of drip irrigation technology on a mango plantation and (ii) rice cultivation using alternate wetting and drying technology. Partners are able to contribute using their respective capabilities: BWP promotes coordinated development and national policies for integrated water resources management. Dascoh Foundation supports farmer training and on-field demo plot management for the new technologies in collaboration with the farmers. SFSA supports resource-poor small farmers through innovation in sustainable agriculture and the activation of value chains. SFSA does this by supplying, testing, and introducing suitable water-efficient techniques for the mango and rice fields, and engaging with national and international water and agronomy experts. The goal is to try to increase farmers’ efficiency (“more crop per drop”) as well as water productivity (“value per drop”).

As for the Coca-Cola Foundation’s support of the project, it is a testament to the benefits that corporates can offer and gain in the 2030 WRG. Corporate partners, in addition to financially supporting the partnership, have active roles that extend from in-country engagement on water security to helping guide the 2030 WRG’s strategic direction, including participation in the 2030 WRG Governing Council (The Coca-Cola Company is a member). Corporates’ interest in the 2030 WRG is directly linked to the viability of their respective value chains, specific to water sustainability. For these companies, water is a key ingredient; as a result, they need to assure it is effectively managed, consumed, and accessed by all. As 2030 WRG partners, corporates can not only learn, but also contribute their expertise on cutting-edge developments that can help them consume less water, innovate their products, and help water-stressed populations gain access to water.

In two years, the IWET project has already been able to reach out to 6,000 mango and rice farmers and save 3,604,469 m3 of water. The project will continue for at least five to ten years as long-term implementation is necessary to counter the lack of groundwater for irrigation due to long-term excessive groundwater abstraction.

This March 2020, the project held a successful field trip that included a training session and the opportunity to meet with farmers, hub managers, and master franchisees. Special attention was paid to the project’s water-saving and backward/forward linkages, especially the locally-fabricated drip system that can be used for the next stage of large-scale investment. Explanations were provided on the plans for a complimentary agro-processing zone.

Photo credits: Jennifer Gulland, 2030 WRG

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PRESS RELEASE | Working to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Bangladesh

Unilever Bangladesh with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the 2030 Water Resources group are collaborating to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) offices in 64 districts that are still operating under these circumstances.

The Deputy Commissioner’s offices are the focal government agencies which coordinate disaster response operations. During the lockdown period, DC offices remain open to provide necessary services to the people and have been playing a critical role to control the contamination.

Unilever Bangladesh already pledged BDT 200 million [approx. $2.4 million] to help the nation in its fight against COVID-19. The commitment includes measures such as product donations, creating awareness, improving health infrastructure, protecting its people and livelihoods. This initiative, of working with DC offices is part of UBL’s larger commitment to combat Covid-19.

Under this collaboration, the overall WASH spectrum will be improved by installing hand washing stations at the entrance of each DC office, with added support for disinfection of office compounds, improved sanitation and safe drinking water facility across 64 districts.

The initiative will also provide access to Unilever’s hygiene products, Lifebuoy Domex and Pureit in 64 Deputy Commissioner’s offices along with spray machines and the appropriate disinfecting materials.

Through this collaboration DC office employees will be trained on how to run regular disinfection activities and inform office visitors on hygienic protocols to stay safe during this pandemic.

In addition,  lifesaving messages will be disseminated in all 64 district towns to provide public with information required to tackle the current pandemic. This overarching initiative will help to raise awareness and carry out messages designed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The country’s largest humanitarian organization, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) will lead the implementation across 64 districts and DC offices on the disinfecting activities.

The Directorate General of Health Services and the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh government have supported this initiative and given their approval on conducting the activities across the nation which is scheduled to continue until the end of May.

Prof Dr Md Habibe Millat, MP, Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent said “We need multi-sectorial collaboration to tackle the humanitarian crisis of this scale and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society is supporting Bangladesh government in COVID19 response to save lives and to create alertness among people regarding the infection. We are happy that Unilever Bangladesh and 2030 WRG joined us to prevent and control this pandemic”

Kedar Lele, CEO, Unilever Bangladesh Limited, “Our commitment towards the nation remains strong as ever. This is the time when our front-line workers need our support including the government offices. Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) offices stand as one of the vulnerable spots as hundreds of people access these offices on a regular basis.

Through our brands, Lifebuoy, Domex and Pureit we aim to improve the overall WASH spectrum and influence the Hygiene Behavior to stop the spread of the virus. Our collaboration with BDRCS and the 2030 Water Resources Group will have a stronger impact on the citizens and will provide the confidence to keep moving forward against this wall of uncertainty. ”

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Making Progress on Water Governance in Peru: An Ongoing Collaborative Effort

The 2030 WRG and the World Bank Water Global Practice supported the Ministry of Environment in organizing a workshop in Lima aimed at discussing the challenges and opportunities for strengthening collaborative water governance in Peru.

Left to right: Patricia Garcés Peralta, Vice-minister of Women, Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations; Gabriel Quijandría, Vice-minister of Natural Resources Strategic Development, Ministry of Environment; Amarildo Fernández Estela, Chief, National Water Authority; Rita Cestti, Practice Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank Water Global Practice

The two-day workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment and the National Water Authority, which is a specialized agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, as a complementary activity to the ongoing policy dialogue process on water governance in light of the elaboration period of the forthcoming Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country report on water governance.

Participants from more than 10 local public entities learned from international experiences in key areas related to water governance, shared their experiences on these topics, and offered recommendations on the draft report about Water Governance and Policies in Peru.

The event brought together representatives from local entities of key sectors related to the water stewardship system in the country and provided them with a unique opportunity to discuss current initiatives and challenges, as well as future opportunities and critical actions to strengthen water governance in the country.

World Bank experts shared successful experiences, knowledge, and lessons learned on water governance and water security from diverse countries within the Latin America region. Topics such as water security assessment, circular economy, and economic instruments for water resources management were covered during the workshop. Experts also shared the results of the long-lasting collaboration with the Peruvian Government on the water agenda.

By the end of the workshop, participants put together a list of recommendations for the OECD draft report. This document to (i) strengthen water governance in the country not only across related sectors but also at the different levels of water resources management; (ii) improve the regulatory framework; and (iii) analyze economic instruments for water resources management.

Participants included representatives from the National Water Authority, the Ministry of Environment, the Presidency of Council of Ministries, the Water Supply and Sanitation Regulator (SUNASS), the Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Social Inclusion, and the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation, among others.

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2030 WRG and Vietnam Environmental Administration to tackle Water Pollution in Vietnam

Hanoi, December 20, 2019 – The Vietnam Environmental Administration (VEA) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) together with the 2030 WRG convened a multi-stakeholder working group to endorse the launching of an Urban Industrial Water Pollution Workstream. The main objectives of this initiative are: (i) to provide concrete policy recommendations and (ii) to ideate, design, and provide implementation support for transformative actions such as programs, projects, and initiatives to prioritize water pollution and to take concrete actions to address this space.

In addition to the MONRE, members of this working group include: the Ministry of Construction (MOC), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Ministry of Industrial and Trade (MOIT), and Ministry of Finance (MOF); Nestlé, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Bao Minh Textile Group, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry / Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VCCI/VBCSD); and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN), Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR), Vietnam Water Supply and Sewage Association (VWSSA), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) among others. International observers include the German International Development Agency (GIZ), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and International Financial Corporation (IFC). Other organizations will also be involved to work on specific taskforces based on their expertise. The 2030 WRG and VEA/MONRE will be the joint secretariat of the working group.

The workstream endorsed the activities to be undertaken in the context of this initiative, including the establishment of three task forces to work with the textile sector, the identification of the next sector, and the search for alternative financing options. Under the textile taskforce, an assessment of the sector water footprint and a feasibility study for water recycling and reuse within 1-2 industrial parks will soon be implemented.

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2030 WRG and SABESP team up to tackle wastewater treatment in São Paulo Metropolitan region

Versão em português abaixo

By Stela Goldenstein, 2030 WRG Brazil Country Coordinator

The São Paulo Metropolitan Region, with 39 municipalities and more than 21 million inhabitants, has a complex sewage collection, removal, and treatment system. Currently, 87% of the volume of sewage generated in the region is collected. According to the government’s targets, by 2025, the collection should cover 92% of the generated sewage, and 85% of it should be sent for treatment.

Although these are very significant indicators of sanitation as compared to most large Brazilian cities, the volume of water that the rivers of the São Paulo Basin (Alto Tietê Basin) provide is still insufficient to dilute all the sewage load in natura that these rivers receive, making them extremely polluted.

Most of the collected sewage in the region is sent to five large wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which were designed according to international manuals and standards of sanitary engineering from developed countries. However, due to the specific characteristics of the sewage in a large Brazilian city like São Paulo and to other technical factors, these facilities have operational problems that reduce their pollution removal efficiency. Considering that the expansion of the collection networks in urban areas is underway, and that there will be an increase in the sewage flows to be sent to these same facilities, it is crucial to prioritize strategic investments in maximizing the performance of the existing WWTPs instead of duplicating or building new infrastructure (as is traditionally thought), which is far more costly and time-consuming.

At the beginning of 2019, the 2030 WRG and SABESP, the public sanitation company of the State of São Paulo, joined efforts to develop and implement a performance optimization program in the five largest treatment plants operating in the São Paulo metropolitan area, starting with the Barueri and the Parque Novo Mundo WWTPs. The program aims to improve the quality of final effluents discharged back to the environment and prepare these facilities to properly receive increased sewage loads and also incorporate circular economy processes.

The adopted methodology for the next steps, developed with technical support from international expert Daniel Nolasco, involves the evaluation of historical data of operations, the introduction of measuring and monitoring equipment, and the auditing and performance analysis of each step of the sewage treatment process at every WWTP, including monitored tests. These steps will allow for the checking of the current efficiency of each process or phase, the detection of operational bottlenecks, and the identification of corrective measures for maximizing performance at a reasonable cost, without the need for new infrastructure.

Very positive results of this program have already been obtained at the Barueri WWTP (ETE Barueri), such as the expansion of the plant’s capacity to remove grit and sand materials (pre-treatment) and the reduction of BOD concentration in the final effluent discharged into the Tietê River. Other positive outcomes include the consolidation of a performance-based contracting strategy for the purchase of equipment, and a greater integration of the different boards of SABESP around common goals.

With the continuity of the program, this set of WWTPs will have a significant increase in operational performance. The five facilities will be able to guarantee compliance with the project standards on pollution removal and even exceed them, which will significantly contribute to the improvement of water quality in the region. By 2022, the program’s goal is to achieve a 90 to 95% pollution load removal capacity in the 5 regional WWTPs, which should receive a total volume of about 21 m3/sec.

Versão em português:

A Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, com 39 municípios e mais de 21 milhões de habitantes, conta com um complexo sistema de coleta e tratamento de esgoto. Atualmente, 87% do volume de esgoto gerado na região é coletado, e 78% é enviado para tratamento. De acordo com as metas governamentais, até 2025, a coleta deverá abranger 92% do esgoto gerado, e 85% do esgoto coletado deverá ser enviado para tratamento.

Embora sejam indicadores de saneamento muito expressivos em comparação à maioria das grandes cidades brasileiras, os rios da bacia paulistana (Bacia do Alto Tietê) têm volume reduzido de água, insuficiente para diluir a carga de esgoto in natura que ainda recebem, gerado pela significativa concentração de população, o que os torna extremamente poluídos.

O esgoto coletado é enviado para 5 grandes estações de tratamento (ETEs). Com a ampliação da rede de coleta nas áreas urbanas, em andamento, e o aumento das vazões de esgoto a serem enviadas para estas mesmas ETEs, torna-se dramaticamente importante investir para melhorar a eficácia dos processos de tratamento. No início de 2019, em um trabalho conjunto, o 2030 WRG e a SABESP deram início a um programa de otimização do desempenho das ETEs da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, visando a melhorar a qualidade dos seus efluentes finais, a receber os novos volumes de esgotos e a prepará-las para incorporar processos de economia circular.

O desafio foi aceito, o projeto está em andamento e o 2030 WRG apoia ativamente a SABESP na implementação do programa. A metodologia adotada, desenvolvida em conjunto com a equipe da SABESP e o especialista internacional Daniel Nolasco, envolve vários procedimentos, como: a avaliação de dados históricos; a introdução de equipamentos para medição e monitoramento; a auditoria e a análise do desempenho de cada etapa do processo de tratamento de esgoto em cada ETE, etc. O objetivo é identificar as deficiências, os gargalos infraestruturais e operacionais, e as necessidades de investimento para a sua correção.

Concebido, facilitado e financiado pelo 2030 WRG e pela SABESP, o programa, em suas etapas iniciais, envolveu a realização de visitas de reconhecimento às ETEs, a discussão dos achados em workshops internos, e a definição conjunta das etapas, procedimentos e metas do programa. Resultados muito positivos já foram obtidos na ETE Barueri, como a ampliação da capacidade de remoção de sólidos grosseiros e areia (pré-tratamento) e a redução da concentração de DBO no efluente lançado no Rio Tietê. Outros resultados já alcançados pelo programa são a consolidação de uma estratégia de contratação por performance para a compra de equipamentos e uma maior integração das diferentes diretorias da SABESP em torno de metas comuns.

Com a continuidade do programa, o conjunto das ETEs da RMSP terá expressivo incremento em sua eficácia operacional, atingindo e superando as metas de projeto quanto à remoção das cargas de poluição, o que contribuirá significativamente a melhoria da qualidade das águas na região.

Para 2022, o programa estabelece como meta alcançar uma capacidade de remoção de carga de poluição entre 90 a 95% nas 5 ETEs em operação na região, as quais receberão uma vazão total de esgoto de cerca de 21 m3/s.

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Strengthening the Mexican Water Financial System

March 2020 – The World Bank Water Global Practice, the International Finance Corporation, and the 2030 WRG met with CONAGUA to discuss the prospect of collaborating on a comprehensive technical advisory process focusing on ways to strengthen the Mexican water financing system.  The meeting took place in CONAGUA’s headquarters and included the participation of personnel from different units dealing with water resources planning, project structuration, project finance, and legal advisory.

The outcome of this meeting is a comprehensive work plan that includes the following activities: (i) the mapping and diagnostics of the water sector’s existing financing sources and instruments; (ii) the analysis of the 1928 trust fund’s operations and prospects; (iii) the identification and sharing of international best practices regarding water financing systems; (iv) the establishment of a PPP-specialized office; and (v) the implementation of a capacity-building process on PPP project structuration.

These technical advisory activities are part of the longstanding collaboration between the World Bank Group and CONAGUA, and hopefully will help strengthen the Mexican water financing systems to respond to important budgetary cuts and financial gaps in the water sector.

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Mexico: Session of CCA’s Water Security and Legal Certainty Thematic Committee

March 11, 2020, Mexico City – The Water Advisory Council (CCA)’s Water Security and Legal Certainty Thematic Committee held a meeting with the special participation of Mr. Eugenio Barrios, CONAGUA’s Deputy Director for Water Resources Management. The meeting’s objectives were (i) to discuss the highlights of the Collaborative Document: Towards the Strengthening of the Water Allocation Regime; (ii) to learn from the Deputy Director about CONAGUA’s perspective and current activities to reform the water allocation regime; and (iii) to discuss the orientation and content of the Committee’s present collaboration with CONAGUA.

This collaboration will focus on helping CONAGUA look at some policy instruments that could help bring greater adaptive flexibility and resilience to the water allocation regime and at a mechanism/protocol to support the management of collective community concessions. The meeting counted the active participation of several of its members, including among others: Agua Capital, CESPEDES, Coca-Cola, FEMSA-Coca-Cola, Constellation Brands, FEMSA Foundation, Grupo Bal, Grupo Modelo-AB InBev, Heineken, Nestlé, The Nature Conservancy, Suez, and Veolia.

The Water Security and Legal Certainty Thematic Committee was created to support a multi-stakeholder dialogue process and technical advisory on matters concerning the strengthening and modernization of the Mexican water allocation regime and ways to develop a more enabling environment for corporate water stewardship.

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Need for Alternative Financing for the water sector as an actionable solution for the water crisis

L to R: Tom Williams, Director Water, World Business Council for Sustainable Development; Siddharth Sharma, IAS, Chief Sustainability Officer – Tata Sons; Archana Shukla, Assistant Editor, Network18; Ajay Dua, IAS, Former Union Commerce Secretary; Kavita Sachwani, 2030 WRG Maharashtra State Coordinator; Pierre Rousseau, Global Sustainability Head, BNP Paribas

Mumbai, February 2020 – 2030 WRG Maharashtra State Coordinator Kavita Sachwani represented the 2030 WRG as a panelist at the Forbes India Sustainability Changemakers Summit championed by BNP Paribas for a discussion on actionable solutions to India’s water crisis. She spoke about the need for the recently introduced workstream on Alternative Financing for the Water Sector:

We really need to move from pricing water to valuing water. We have the Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana; we are also talking about raising tariffs and taxes, and we also have CSR funds. All these sources of finance together are also not enough to finance the gap. There is a gap of 2.5 Trillion USD in developing economies for meeting SDGs, and a significant portion of this is for water. We need to move beyond traditional models of financing and subsidy-driven models to newer and more innovative models of financing such as impact investing, alternative investment funds, blended finance, pension funds, and insurance companies.