Crystal Clear - February 2005

Contents:

• New BPD document: The Partnership Paperchase
• Training announcement: Enhancing Professional Practice
• Analysis for comment: Local Urban Management Models
• BPD's AGM 04 & Board Meeting
• Current Research: Community Engagement in Partnerships

 NEW BPD DOCUMENT: The Partnership Paperchase

The Partnership Paperchase: Structuring Partnership Agreements in Water and Sanitation to Serve Low-income Communities

Much of the partnership literature emphasises that partners should develop solid agreements (letters of agreement, contracts, etc.) between themselves though with minimal detail as to how to go about it and what to include. This document provides analysis on ways to improve the "glue" that binds partners together - helping to develop more effective, more accountable and more predictable modes of working collaboratively. BPD's latest published research suggests that the form of the paperwork is less critical than getting fundamentals of the relationship right at the outset.

We would be happy to send you a published copy of the document.  Please email us with your address. The paper is also available in French and Spanish.

TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT: Enhancing Professional Practice

BPD is keen to announce a new programme for water and sanitation partnership practitioners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in conjunction with the Water and Sanitation Program and The Partnering Initiative.

The week-long course will actively mix practitioners from different projects from across the public, private and civil society sectors to:

• build awareness of available knowledge and resources about partnerships in water and sanitation;
• build and develop practical partnering skills; and 
• support the application of skills and knowledge to current partnering challenges.

The first course will be offered in Nairobi, Kenya from 8-14 May 2005.  Click here for further information and application details. Application deadline: 1 April 2005.

(Building on this pilot, we hope to be able to offer the course in different regions over the next two years.) 

PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS FOR COMMENT: Local Urban Management Models

Local Management Models for Water Supply and Sanitation for the Urban Poor

Increasingly partnership approaches are being proposed as a way to improve relationships between institutions at the community level (often created with NGO support) and utilities. To foster understanding between utilities (both public & privately managed) and NGOs, BPD has recently initiated analysis regarding the role and activities of NGOs in facilitating service provision at community level in urban environments. A workshop was held in November 2004 with representatives of seven NGOs working in this area. The draft workshop report provides analysis on the various management models discussed, the roles of NGOs, and recommendations made to utilities and governments.  

We encourage your comments and feedback on this draft report as well as examples of other local urban management models with which you are familiar.  This will feed into the next stage of the initiative - a series of workshops held regionally with utility managers and government representatives. 

BPD'S AGM 04 & Board Meeting

BPD is delighted to announce that we have received Charitable Status from the Charity Commission in the UK.  BPD is now legally recognised as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and a charity.

BPD held its second AGM in Paris in December 2004 in conjunction with its six monthly Board of Directors meeting. As well as administrative discussions, the AGM was an opportunity for presentations on the role of international water law and the BPD urban management models work. Three existing directors were re-elected to the Board.

Members can access the minutes of both meetings

CURRENT RESEARCH: Community Engagement in Partnerships

BPD held a two-day brainstorming session with partnership practitioners in November 04 around community participation in multi-stakeholder partnerships. BPD seeks to better understand practical aspects of how community voice is actually incorporated into partnership approaches and is developing a set of discussion tools to explore this more deeply. Further details available.