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Strategic Partnerships in the Water Sector
The Global Development Alliance (GDA) model represents USAID’s commitment to change the way it implements its assistance mandate. USAID is working to mobilize the ideas, efforts and resources of governments, businesses and civil society by forging public-private alliances to stimulate economic growth, develop businesses and workforces, address health and environmental issues, and expand access to education and technology.
Alliances incorporate the breadth of USAID and partner resources to arrive at solutions only available through pooled efforts. The resources united are as diverse as the alliances themselves, including technology and intellectual property rights, market creation, best practices, policy influence, in-country networks, and expertise in development programs ranging from international trade to biodiversity protection.
USAID has used this innovative tool to forge a number of successful partnerships in the water and sanitation sector, including:
- West Africa Water Initiative (WAWI) - The West Africa Water Initiative (WAWI) is currently engaged in water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and integrated water resources management activities that will have provided benefits to more than 500,000 people in West Africa by 2008.
Visit the WAWI project page >>
- Water and Development Alliance (WADA)
In conjunction with local USAID Missions and Coca-Cola system partners (foundations and bottling facilities), and with support from the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF), the “Water and Development Alliance” (WADA) contributes to protecting and improving the sustainability of watersheds, increasing access to water supply and sanitation services for the world’s poor, and enhancing productive uses of water. With a combined investment of $20.4 million since 2005, WADA is having a positive impact on the lives of people and the health of ecosystems in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, the Near East, and Latin America, with plans for expansion in 2009.
Learn more about WADA >>
- International H20 Collaboration
The International H2O Collaboration is a new worldwide alliance of Rotary International/The Rotary Foundation and USAID. The alliance is initially developing projects in three countries: the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and the Philippines. These countries were selected based on need as well as the ability and experience of local Rotary clubs and USAID missions to address the challenges faced. As it progresses, the alliance will strategically consider expanding to other countries.
International H20 factsheet >> [PDF 707 KB]
- Coral Triangle Initiative - USAID's Regional Mission in Bangkok, Thailand launched a $40 million, five-year Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) to better manage the biologically rich marine and coastal area known as the "Amazon of the Seas", in the waters surrounding Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands. The CTI seeks to regulate the management of fisheries, protect threatened species, and help residents adapt to climate change in one of the world's most populated regions. The Coral Triangle, which covers an expanse of ocean of 2.3 million square miles, is home to more than 75 percent of all known coral species and 3,000 fish species. Other partners on the initiative include the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Department of State, the Australian Government, Walton Family Foundation, CTI Secretariat, Asian Development Bank, and the Global Environment Facility.
Coral Triangle Initiative project page >>
- Global FISH Alliance - The Global FISH Alliance promotes sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices through the application of a system-wide approach that balances economic, environmental, governmental, and social components essential to enhancing livelihoods and biodiversity. Supported by the U.S. Government and partners, G-FISH brings together government, private sector, and NGOs to work collaboratively on specific fisheries around the world. At a global level, G-FISH maps where fishery reforms have been implemented and identifies management practices that have worked well. At local levels, G-FISH works through Alliance partners and local stakeholders to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices.
USAID’s Commitment to Partnerships
At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, the U.S. showcased how it promotes sustainable development in 148 countries through concrete actions involving partnerships of numerous public and private institutions. This new alliance model represents a fundamental reorientation in how USAID sees itself in the context of international development assistance, relates to its traditional partners, and seeks out and develops alliances with new partners.
Since 2001, USAID has supported more than 290 public-private alliances with approximately $1.1 billion, leveraging almost $5 billion in outside contributions.1 The Office of Global Development Alliances believes that such partnerships should bring at least one-to-one leveraging of USAID resources with additional non-federal resources, which can be in-kind or cash.
How to Identify Potential Alliance Members
Partners can be as diverse as the alliances themselves, including NGOs, foundations, universities, associations, small and large businesses, multilateral or bilateral donors and government entities. Early steps for identifying the right partners might include determining the organizations that make the largest investment in the sector or region; speaking at Chambers of Commerce or industry events; hosting a forum for potential private sector partners; or conferring with Embassy Commercial Attachés or Ministries of Commerce.
Several resources can help locate potential alliances:
- Internet searches may be the first way to start locating relevant resources, including review of business directories, industry associations and news items.
- Associations serve as an industry focal point and may provide one of the best
networking opportunities with member companies.
- The USAID Office of Global Development Alliances (www.usaid.gov/gda) has developed a network of hundreds of organizations, from private sector companies to foundations, through its concentrated work on alliances and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Is an Alliance an Appropriate Option?
An alliance should be considered when it supplements and deepens the impact of an objective, planned results or activities. All prospective alliance members should have a clear common cause for the alliance, believe in alliances as a better strategy to solve problems
than the status quo, be willing to treat each other as equal partners, have operational practices that incorporate elements of corporate responsibility such as commitments to human rights and environmental protection, be willing to commit and share resources, and be able to work creatively together to take risks that individually they might not.
What Are the Attributes of Successful Alliances?
- Joint definition of the problem and a shared solution by all alliance partners;
- Commitment between partners to share resources, risks and rewards;
- Looking toward new partners (or existing partners in new ways) for innovative approaches to get the job done;
- Leveraging significant resources that may include financial support, in-kind contributions and intellectual property.
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