Report of the International Consultations on Partnership in the Water Sector for Cities in Africa

The International Consultations on: Partnership in the Water Sector for Cities in Africa were organized jointly by the Settlement Infrastructure and Environment Programme (SIEP) of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the Africa Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme in collaboration with the Water Utility Partnership for Capacity Building Programme in Africa (WUP). The event was hosted by the Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry of South Africa. Among other agencies which were actively associated with the organization of the Consultations were: the Organization of African Unity, the Governments of Denmark and the Netherlands, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and UNDP-World Bank Water and Sanitation Programme. The local sponsors were: Rand Water, Umgeni Water and the South Africa Infrastructure Fund. The Consultations were the first major follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in the water sector for African cities. It focussed on the fresh mandate coming out of the Habitat II Conference and generated new avenues for increased public/private and community partnerships in the water sector.

The Consultations attracted 230 participants from 40 countries and 25 United Nations and other international and regional agencies. Among the participants were 20 Ministers responsible for water resources, urban and community development and the environment. Others attending the Consultations were senior national and local government representatives and leaders of water industry from Africa and European countries, investment companies and banks and internationally known NGOs active in the water sector. The Consultations were widely covered by the international and local media.