GOVERNANCE, FINANCE, INSTITUTIONS, AND MARKETS

Alignment with the U.S. Global Water Strategy

This topic aligns with Strategic Objective 1 in the U.S. Global Water Strategy: Strengthen Water and Sanitation Sector Governance, Financing, Institutions, and Markets

Key Resources

Water Security, Sanitation and Hygiene Governance Technical Brief

Financing Water and Sanitation Services Technical Brief

Context

USAID’s Approach

Develop, strengthen, and implement inclusive laws, policies, and regulations
USAID works with local, national, and regional institutions, including traditional or customary systems, to develop and improve the coordination and enforcement of laws, policies, and regulations. This includes promoting markets and advising on setting user fees, rate structures, and subsidies so that services are affordable to users while also ensuring long-term financial viability of public or private service providers.

Effectively mobilize and target public and private financing
USAID supports local and national governments to better utilize existing public funding and mobilize additional funds from domestic resources, user fees, and payments for ecosystem services; advises service providers on how to strengthen business viability and creditworthiness; partners with finance institutions to develop or expand financial products; and provides technical assistance to help structure private sector partnerships to improve management of water resources or enhance water and sanitation services.

USAID aims mobilize $1 billion for water security, sanitation, and hygiene

Improve the capacity and performance of regional, national, and subnational institutions
USAID works with local communities and governments to improve the performance and diversification of sector institutions and actors, including supporting capacity development for professionals in government, the private sector, and civil society. This includes advances in diverse human resources and staffing, business and operational planning, management systems and technologies, clarification of roles and responsibilities within decision-making processes, occupational health and safety, integration of data and evidence into routine planning, and communication with and responsiveness to customers and other stakeholders.

USAID aims to improve the performance of 1,000 water security institutions

Advance transparency, accountability, equity, and efficiency through participatory, data-driven decision-making
USAID supports civil society organizations to hold governments accountable, including in locations where partnership with governments is limited due to corruption and government-sanctioned conflict. USAID invests in evidence and data and works to ensure a diversity of constituents, especially underserved or marginalized groups and communities, can safely and meaningfully participate in the sector, including in sector research, data collection, and decision-making.

Read more under Strategic Objective 1 in the U.S. Global Water Strategy.