Based on the model of United Nations Water Operator Partnerships, German water utilities, represented by the GWP’s working group “Operation and Capacity Development”, proposed promoting similar operator partnerships between German and international water operators. In cooperation with GIZ, SKEW and VKU, the idea of a new model for partnerships between German municipal operators and operators from developing and emerging countries was developed.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has taken up this approach and has been funding a pilot project since summer 2019. Within this project, four partnerships with operators from Jordan, South Africa, Zambia and Ukraine are being developed and implemented.
The Operator partnerships are intended to enable a systematic approach to international cooperation that will be effective beyond the pilot phase, building on the practical experience of German operators.

The partnerships are part of the “Utility platform for strengthening partnerships of municipal utilities worldwide”. The platform is a contact point for municipal utilities that aim to get involved in international partnerships, providinig qualified advice and facilitates the networking of municipal enterprises.

Visit the official website of the operator platform: https://www.utilityplatform.connective-cities.net/en/

The pilot project “Utility platform for strengthening partnerships of municipal enterprises worldwide” is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and will be implemented from July 2019 as a joint project between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Engagement Global with its Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW). 

The operator platform is being developed and implemented in cooperation with the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) and German Water Partnership (GWP).