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24 June 2008
Singapore, 24 June 2008 - The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy today launched the Institute of Water Policy to meet some of Asia’s most critical water challenges with respect to policy and governance.
“Water is a global priority. It is also a regional priority. As the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is committed to studying and addressing key public policy challenges, it was a natural development for our School to set up an Institute of Water Policy,” said Prof. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. “There will also be strong synergies between the work we will do on water and the ongoing research on energy and climate change, public health and public management. Through IWP, we also hope to catalyse more regional collaboration in addressing new challenges in water governance.”
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) assesses that some 700 million people in the region lack access to safe water and about 2 billion lack access to basic sanitation facilities. As part of the school’s mission to help raise standards of governance in the continent, the IWP aims to undertake critical research on water policy and its governance in countries across Asia with a view to finding more effective water solutions.
Prof. Mahbubani added: “The school is pleased to announce the new Director for the IWP, Dr K E Seetharam. He brings with him an enormous wealth of expertise in water supply, sanitation, and waste water management. Under his able stewardship, we are confident that IWP will develop into a leading water policy institute in Asia.”
Dr. Seetharam is currently the Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist at the Asian Development Bank.
IWP will receive funding of some $7.5 million from the Singapore Government and the Public Utilities Board (PUB) for its first 5 years. The institute will partner with PUB, the 2007 winner of Stockholm Industry Water Prize to leverage on its sound water policy and governance, as well as the operational and technical expertise in managing water resources in an integrated manner.
"Singapore has identified the water sector to be one of the key growth sectors for the economy, and has formulated plans to become a global hydro-hub through R&D, engineering and manufacturing,” said Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Chief Executive of PUB. “But to enhance our standing as a global hydro-hub, this must be complemented by sound policies and governance which exemplify the comprehensive and integrated approach to the management of water resources. This is an area where the IWP can contribute.”
It is widely recognized that water utilities that perform well across Asia such as Singapore and Cambodia are the ones where water is valued as a scarce commodity and priced accordingly. Countries that offer water subsidies are places with the biggest water problems as it undermines the incentive structure for the efficient and sustainable operation of water utilities.
“The research we produce will hopefully provide data that will convince policy makers across the region that good water economics is also good water politics,” said Prof. Mahbubani. “This is probably one of the least appreciated facts amongst Asian policymakers and politicians.”
Most water experts today agree that technology is a necessary, not a sufficient criteria in solving Asia’s water crisis. Water-related technology is increasingly becoming widely available across developing countries in Asia, what hinders real progress on clean water delivery is sound policies. Leadership also matters highly in the success of these utilities.
“IWP aims to increase the profile of water issues in national policy agendas across Asia. We have to now move from aspiration to action in resolving Asia’s water crisis,” said Prof. Mahbubani. “The institute holds great potential to address the challenges that the continent faces on clean water management through providing cutting edge research that can be used to implement effective water policies in countries across Asia.”
The IWP is being launched at the Singapore International Water Week, where a strategic group of government officials, industry leaders and water specialists are gathering to meet and discuss policies, business solutions and water technologies. Comprising the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention and Water Expo, it culminates in the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, a prestigious international award to recognize outstanding contributions in solving water issues.
About the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is an autonomous, professional graduate school of the National University of Singapore. Its mission is to help educate and train the next generation of Asian policy makers and leaders, with the objective of raising the standards of governance throughout the region, improving the lives of its people and, in so doing, contribute to the transformation of Asia. For more details on the LKYSPP, please visit www.lkyspp.nus.edu.sg.
For further information, please contact:
Preeti Dawra
Head, Strategic Communications,
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
HP 65-81251015
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