February 2013: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released an annual review of its water financing programme titled “Water Financing Partnership Facility: Annual Report 2012.” The annual report covers the activities of the Facility from January-December 2012, and presents its cumulative performance.

The 55-page report includes sections on: highlights and achievements; financial status; management; relationship with financing partners; and lessons learned, experiences and key constraints. The report notes that there was low demand for the Facility in the first half of 2012, owing partly to the low ceiling, USD 200,000 for country technical assistance, and USD 500,000 for regional technical assistance. Revised ceiling were approved in the second half of 2012, and as a result demand for the Facility increased in the second half of 2012.

The report highlights major activities in 2013, including: the Subregional Conference on Promoting Innovations in Wastewater Management in the Asia and Pacific Region, on 29-31 January 2013; Asian Water Week, 13-15 March 2013, organized around the theme “Securing Water for All;” and the sixth Annual Consultation Meeting, to be held at ADB headquarters, in Manila, the Philippines, on 18-19 March 2013.

The Water Financing Partnership Facility was established in 2006. It aims to provide additional financial and knowledge resources from development partners to support the implementation of ADB Water Financing Program, as well as help achieve the Program’s targeted outcomes. [ADB Press Release] [Publication: Water Financing Partnership Facility: Annual Report 2012]