Throughout the developing world, millions of people lack access to safe water and improved sanitation, which has high social and economic costs. The World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) has been advising client governments on the effective engagement of domestic private sector in the delivery of services and the development of water and sanitation markets that cater to the poor.

In this public event, Jaehyang So and Bob Warner presented the findings of the WSP’s recently published report ‘Tapping the Market: Opportunities for domestic investments in water and sanitation for the poor’. The report is the first study of its kind to systematically assess the constraints of domestic firms in investing for increased supply to the poor. The study discusses the paradox of a large market dominated by small firms and concludes that enabling the domestic private sector to supply the base of the pyramid requires addressing a range of commercial, policy and institutional issues, and some rethinking about value chains, technology and the role of government.

Jaehyang So has a background in urban service delivery, utilities and corporate restructuring, and public- private partnerships. Immediately prior to joining WSP, Ms So was the Lead Infrastructure Specialist in the Bank’s South Asia Regional Infrastructure Department working primarily on Bangladesh and Pakistan urban water and sanitation sector programs.

Bob Warner is Director, Pacific Research Partnerships at Crawford School of Public Policy.

This lecture was presented by the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University