BPD Next Steps

Basic services can be delivered through Multi-Sector Partnerships

The numbers are well known - too many poor people still lack access to basic services. Since 1998, BPD has explored how best to harness the benefits of partnerships amongst the public, private, and civil society sectors to bridge the gaps. Multi-sector partnerships promote innovation, greater accountability, and build capacity and understanding at various levels to make projects more appropriate and effective. Specific skills are required to work in partnership, hence there is a clear need to support partnerships from inception and continually strengthen their performance.

To facilitate the practical implementation of partnerships in the water and sanitation sector we have needed to start from practical experience in order to provide credible ideas and guidance. Through a set of local-level focus projects BPD has managed to dispel some of the rhetoric around partnerships while promoting more effective mechanisms for making them successful.

From 1998-2002 the main focus of our work was primarily in research and analysis of how tri-sector partnerships do and can function on the ground. Though each project exhibits different challenges inherent in these relationships, a set of pragmatic concepts and examples of good practice is emerging.

During the current phase of BPD our primary emphasis is to move from research and analysis into much more proactive work that develops and reinforces innovative partnerships. We aim to engage with a variety of project types, including small towns, local private sector projects, etc. Activities are divided into four (overlapping) components:

Options for involvement with BPD range from taking advantage of the assistance and support to new partnerships, contributing to research and analysis, attending training sessions on specific topics, or being part of the wider membership of BPD.