Updating the National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Plan (NWSSIP) - Fine-tuning at a Water Sector retreat in Taiz

Key decision-makers from Yemeni ministries and water sector organisations as well as donors met for a retreat in Taiz from 24–26 August 2008. The aim of the retreat was to discuss the draft NWSSIP update prepared by sub-sector groups on Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (UWSS and RWSS), Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Irrigation and Institutional Development.

IWRM proved to be the most challenging part of the NWSSIP update since a large number of stakeholders are involved. It became clear in the discussions that the decentralisation of water management needs to be speeded up. NWRA branches need to be established and developed and Water User Associations (WUA) empowered. It was decided to address cross-cutting issues such as gender and conflict sensitivity also. Acknowledgement and registration of water rights was seen as an important precondition for an equitable rural-urban water transfer.

The Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (UWSS) discussion focused on how to involve the private sector to increase coverage. It was acknowledged that the private sector has to play a much more important role in supplying households with water. In addition, potential exists for reducing the operational costs of water utilities by out-sourcing tasks to the private sector.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS), the sector with the highest absorptive capacity, is challenged by sector coordination and planning processes. It was decided that a rural water strategy as well as clear coverage figures should be incorporated into the NWSSIP update.

The most important topic discussed regarding irrigation was the establishment of economic, social and environmental criteria for the construction of water harvesting structures, in order to avoid harm to nature and society. The irrigation sector still offers plenty of scope for further harmonised approaches with other sub-sectors.

Regarding institutional development it was concluded that institutional assessments need to be made in all the water sector organisations in order to identify capacity development needs.

The results of the retreat will be communicated to the sub-sector working groups. The final version and cabinet approval for the NWSSIP update is expected by the end of this year.


August 2008

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