The water in the development of the Millennium (MDGs) after 2015 strategy: what role for the sector private?

 

Discussion on the objectives of global development after 2015 should examine the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders. One of these stakeholders, including the private sector, is at the center of some of the initial ideas when answering the question:

4. What role and responsibility of the private sector to take delivering these objectives?

Part of the role of business in achieving these objectives can be commercial, especially given the huge amount of funding for the maintenance and expansion of the water infrastructure necessary to achieve the objectives.

I mentioned the amounts needed up to 2030, but they are only a part, but needs an especially important framework, funding for infrastructure. In fact, an estimated gain of USD 50 billion of infrastructure spending will be required by 2030, of which 55% is for water and wastewater (report BCG;) The challenge of the 2010 global infrastructure; City of Kirill Dmitriev, president B20 Task force, investment and Infrastructure, Moscow December 12, 2012).

Given the budgetary problems in many countries, these orders of magnitude underline the need for participation of the private sector with trade finance and project management for cost effectiveness. But these are points politically very sensitive and require a debate led by Governments and local actors (see my answer to question 5).

No doubt, the role of the business must also go beyond the above, especially when you consider the business as an actor in the company with its own responsibilities and opportunities to act. But in some ways, the answer to question 5 must precede any response to question 4.

For reasons related to the nature of the issues at hand, Governments must take the lead in providing orientation and strategy, transparency (for example about the cost) and General and regulatory frameworks for access to water and sanitation and water resources management.

This would allow the companies to focus on what interests us (not solutions of "pretend" and not piecemeal) and profitable. In many cases, companies may be able to provide technical expertise and managerial and efficiency.

However, given the difficulties that occur often to take advantage of public-private partnerships in areas such as these, our proposal would be to up and running with a catalogue of good practices for Governments to choose and, in particular, to focus on the implementation of good practices (cost-effective and relevant), wherever possible.

I'll try to think further on this issue. Your comments would be particularly welcome.

Please see below my answers to the other questions on the "strategy of the MDGs after 2015".

1 Have been useful original targets in the mind of the Government, companies and civil society with emphasis on the water crisis and its importance in social and economic development overall?

2. What remains to be done before that date to complete the work begun in 2000?

3. On the assumption that we would like the goals after 2015 to still include a target on water, how should frame us? What would the key progress and success measures?

5. What would you do the Governments?