water-sanitation-hygiene-washAssistance to the Malian Private Water Sector – ASP-Eau

Skat provided continued support to the ASP-Eau Program at various stages, including organisational development, choice of appropriate partners, implementation of the BDS approach, market promotion, networking, institution and capacity building, and overall strategic programme development.

Country:

Mali

Project Period:

2002 – 2004 and 2006

Services Provided:

Policy & Strategy development

  • backstopping

Name of Client(s):

Helvetas

Description of the Project:

The ASP-Eau programme aimed at strengthening the role of private actors, market promotion as well as policy dialogue in the Malian water & sanitation sector. The interventions were based on indirect support to these actors through development tools that encourage private market solutions.

The programme’s approach centres around regionally based so-called “Centres de services de développement d’entreprises” (or BDS centres) providing managerial and technical training, and information support to private enterprises. Furthermore, it has supported financial services providers, private sector coordination platforms as well as market creation at the municipal level. Major achievements were:

  • Two operational BDS centres (in Sikasso and Bougouni) with sound business plans based on insights of market studies and test markets carried out in 2002
  • A credit scheme for private actors in W&S, facilitating access to training and equipment through a guarantee fund provided by a local microfinance institution
  • A national platform (CAPE&A) for private enterprises in the W&S sector as a forum for dialogue, coordination, information exchange and lobbying
  • A strategy for market promotion, capacity building and concrete action in W&S at the local (municipal) level
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