A UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Water Forum (GWF) discussion paper titled “The Cautious Expansion of Water Privatization in Low and Middle Income Countries” emphasizes that despite protests related to privatization of urban water systems in the 2000s, the number of privatizations is increasing.
23 January 2013: A UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Water Forum (GWF) discussion paper, titled “The Cautious Expansion of Water Privatization in Low and Middle Income Countries,” emphasizes that despite protests related to privatization of urban water systems in the 2000s, the number of privatizations is increasing.
The paper, authored by Gregory Pierce, University of California, highlights privatization developments, including in geography, actors and arrangements. The paper notes that privatization and the subsequent retreat took place in South America, South East Asia and Eastern Europe, while the new expansion is taking place in China, India and the Gulf States.
The paper also underscores the dominance of the “French model” with limited transfer of service delivery, excluding physical infrastructure, as well as the devolution of decision-making authority from the national to local levels. The paper concludes that water privatization has evolved during the decade, emphasizing that success requires political will and profitability. [Publication: The Cautious Expansion of Water Privatization in Low and Middle Income Countries]