East Asia & Pacific
The Stone Prize for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Water
The Stone Family Foundation has recently launched a new £100,000 ($157,000) Prize — the Stone Prize for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Water. It is looking to find and support exciting new initiatives focused on improving the quality and access to drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa and South and South East Asia. The Foundation hopes the […]
Netherlands: water escapes ODA cuts in 2012
The Netherlands will increase overseas development aid (ODA) in the water sector next year despite an overall cut of € 958 million in ODA. Total spending for integrated water resources management (IWRM), water and sanitation in 2012 will amount to € 181 million, which is € 54 million more than in 2011. This represents an […]
Cambodia: ADB plans US$ 27 million loan for rural water and sanitation
As part of the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2011-2013 for Cambodia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning a US$ 27 million loan and a US$ 800,000 technical assistance grant for the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation III project. Source: ADB Country Operations Business Plan : Cambodia 2011–2013. June 2011. Download full plan […]
Fiji: US bottled water exporter finally pays up
A US bottled water exporter that had enjoyed a de facto tax free status in the Pacific island nation of Fiji since 1995, has finally been forced to pay up. Once dubbed as “bottled insanity” by environmentalist, FIJI Water has been linked to tax evasion, political intrigue, and greenwashing. Water Resource Tax Fiji earned a record […]
Islamic Development Bank approves financing for four water projects
At its 275th meeting on 3 May 2011, the Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) approved financing for the following three water projects: US$ 121.17 million for the Balkan Velayat Water Supply Project in Turkmenistan US$ 11.92 million for the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project in the provinces of […]
Gates Foundation offers grants for innovative sanitation technologies
US$ 100,000 grants are available for innovative non-networked sanitation technologies for the urban poor. “Create the Next Generation of Sanitation Technologies” is one of topics in Round 7 of Grand Challenges Explorations, a US$ 100 million grant initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Proposals are being accepted through May 19, 2011 at 11:30 […]
Atlas Copco doubles contribution to Water for All
The Swedish-based company Atlas Copco will increase its contribution to Water for All for small-scale drinking water projects. Staring in 2011, the Atlas Copco Group will give two times the sum of the voluntary employee donations. Up till now, around one million people have received clean drinking water through Water for All. Water for All […]
Asian Development Bank invests in private equity water infrastructure fund
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is investing up to US$ 20 million for its first-ever investment in a private equity fund solely focused on supporting the development of water-related infrastructure in the region. ADB’s Board of Directors approved the equity investment in the Amkonzen Asia Water Fund which will invest in water and wastewater assets […]
China, Shandong Province: Asian Development Bank to help improve dam quality
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping water-scarce Shandong Province to rehabilitate and improve the efficiency of nine ageing dams with a US$ 29.8 million technical assistance loan. The Risk Mitigation and Strengthening of Endangered Reservoirs in Shandong Province Project will “set the standard for efficient, safe and cost-effective reservoir operation and management nationwide”. “This […]
Palu: ADB loans US$ 16 million Water Sector Improvement Program
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$ 16 million for the Water Sector Improvement Program in the Pacific island state of Palau (pop. 20,000). The programme will address regulatory, management, technical and pricing problems that currently result in high non-revenue water losses and undermine cost recovery. It will also help establish the Palau […]
