Broad multi-stakeholder dialogue during WSSD and WWF3 to take on board demands both from the North and the South. E-conference between water stakeholders from Joburg till Kyoto to continue in-depth dialogue with stakeholders at all decision levels.
Feasibility study and recommendations over legislative actions and awareness raising campaign targeted at local authorities, consumers and private service providers; administrative/financial practical arrangements should be displayed in 2003, in order to set up pilot projects (twinning arrangements between French partners and South partners to raise "cent per m3" in France and use these funds for water poverty reduction focused programmes in the South) during the international freshwater year.

None reported as of 12/03

Leading partner, acting as hub for the initiative: pS-Eau (dialogue between actors, gateway to ensure coherence at European level with other awareness raising initiatives).
Decentralized cooperation programs in the water sector have proven to be efficient in many cases. This initiative will base itself upon this fruitful experience of solidarity and exchange at local level and seeks to involve further support of local authorities, local water management agencies et consumers toward water solidarity.
This initiative is proposed in parallel with "Water as a leverage for development" project, an awareness raising initiative in Europe.
More broadly, this initiative is a first step toward making up with new mechanisms to finance global and secured access to essential goods. Thus, this initiative fits in the European agenda and its policy for cooperation with developing countries, promoting integrated and sustainable water resource management.

The activities of this initiative consist in reviewing the existing institutional, legal, economic and financial framework presiding to the management of water resource in France/Europe. Thus, the expected result is the mainstreaming into relevant national frameworks (institutional, regulatory, budgetary) of the recommendations and their full endorsement by relevant partners (governmental and others).
After consultation of all stakeholders involved in water management in France/Europe, this initiative must describe the prerequisite conditions on how to manage transparently this new international solidarity financing mechanism (accountability, follow up and control of performance of the programs financed through this resources, respect of core principles like cost effectiveness for all water users and usage, participation, etc.)
The goal of this initiative consists also in examining with stakeholders from the South as well as from the North the feasibility, suitability, constraints and conditions for the implementation of a new solidarity mechanism, "cent per m3". Besides, from such an initiative could stem the definition of a new label, certifying that sustainability requirements are respected when the partners, contributing to the management the "cent per m3" (both in the North and in the South), implement this new model of solidarity.
Launching multi-stakeholder dialogue in the WaterDome during WSSD, internal progress reports through electronic newsletter on pS-Eau web site, e-conference till WWF3, seminars.

Amount in US$: 0

Source(s):
No additional information at present.

Required Amount in US$: not specified

Source(s) already approached: French Ministries and French development agency could provide some financial support for the inception of the design phase.