Focus on sustainability in water projects

The recent Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City was of a grand scale, with more than 10,000 participants from around the world, ranging from NGO’s and government agencies to large corporations and academics. Some common themes around the sustainability of water solutions were apparent. There was an increased focus on the need for complete and reliable management of water and sanitation projects, including both education and marketing to end consumers and ongoing maintenance and water quality testing. Many of the sessions and Acumen Fund’s own discussions revolved around the current shortfalls in these areas that result from the current “build and move on” model that many governments and NGOs have adopted.

Financial sustainability was also top of mind, as an entire track of sessions at the conference was dedicated to models for making water and sanitation projects financially viable. It was interesting to see the variety and number of organizations that are seriously thinking about this issue in the same way that we are, and testing out new models in the field.

From our own perspective, it was slightly disappointing that there were not more small-scale entrepreneurs focused on the BOP in attendance (or at least exhibiting) at the conference. It seems that there may be a gap in the official water sector - and the flow of large dollars - and the work that is being done on the ground. Aside from WaterHealth International and a few other technologies that we have encountered in the past, there were few organizations with solutions that would be appropriate for Acumen Fund at this stage.

That said, there is a feeling that the tide is turning, and the issue of sustainability and a move away from charity-driven models in water and sanitation is up for discussion. This fact was very encouraging, and gives us hope that we will find like-minded partners in the field to pursue this course with us.