A Thirst for Change : The World Bank Group's Support for Water Supply and Sanitation, with Focus on the Poor.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Independent Evaluation Group.

Series:

Independent Evaluation Group Studies.

World Bank e-Library.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Accountability.

Governance.

International Governmental Organizations.

Rural Water.

Water Resources.

Water Supply and Sanitation.

Water Supply and Sanitation Finance.

Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions.

Local Subjects:

Accountability.

Governance.

International Governmental Organizations.

Rural Water.

Water Resources.

Water Supply and Sanitation.

Water Supply and Sanitation Finance.

Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions.

Other Title:

Thirst for Change

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : The World Bank, 2017.

System Details:

data file

Summary:

This evaluation assesses the World Bank Group's effectiveness in supporting improved access to adequate, reliable, and sustained water and sanitation services in client countries. It also examines how well the Bank Group is equipped to support the countries in moving toward sustained water and sanitation services for all, with a focus on the poor, in keeping with Sustainable Development Goal 6. The World Bank Group provided USD 30.3 billion for WSS to client countries during FY2007-16. The World Bank accounted for the largest share with USD 28.4 billion (93 percent), followed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) with USD 1.5 billion (5 percent), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) with USD 0.4 billion (2 percent). Lack of financial viability and accountability of service providers are at the core of gaps and disparities in global water and sanitation services, and the World Bank Group's response has been inadequate. Securing financial viability and institutional accountability is also crucial to attract much needed investments into the water and sanitation service sector, including private sector finance. The water and sanitation services sector faces cross-sectoral challenges that are approaching crisis proportions in many areas, but the World Bank Group has not developed yet a systematic response to address such challenges. Without tackling financial viability and cross-sectoral impacts head-on, credible progress towards SDG 6 is unlikely. IEG's evaluation also highlights pioneering and successful initiatives by the Bank in the WSS sector in several countries. The challenge is to replicate these positive experiences elsewhere.