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6. Improving Operational Efficiency (Part 2) Watch Video Connection Speed: High Speed Low Speed    Event Title : Water Week 2009 Date : 2/18/2009 Duration : 72 minutes Language  : English Country/Region : World Keyword :  Water Supply and Sanitation  Water Resources Management  Sustainable Development Presenter : Oscar Alvarado Vasile Ciomos Ermani Ciriaco de Mirando Eduardo Ibanez Jean Marc Jahn Paul Reiter | Related Material | Recommendations |Related B-SPAN Videos |  DESCRIPTION  Washington D.C.—On February 17, 2009, the World Bank presented Water Week 2009, an annual event featuring three days of panel discussions and lectures from various sectors. The discussions covered a variety of issues, from the impact of the financial crisis on water development to the affects of the food price crisis in low income countries. The event was a collaborative effort between the Water Anchor and the Water Sector Board. This year’s Water Week events enabled participants to exchange experiences and knowledge in helping the World Bank achieve solutions to clients most affected by the water crisis. In Part Two of the Improving Operational Efficiency, Paul Reiter facilitated additional discussion on the seminar’s earlier presentations. Bill Kingdom, Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist of the World Bank’s South Asia Region noted the recurring threads of each presentation, noting the political economy and leadership as two major drivers of water management reform. Vasile Ciomos elaborated on the case of Romania, where the government once maintained a centralized method of water resource funding, transitioned into a decentralized system and has recently reverted into its old process. Giving further remarks on his presentation, Oscar Alvarado discussed the active role social engineering plays in projects where drastic changes in water service are concerned. Next, Eduardo Ibañez, Director of Institutional Development of the National Water Agency of Mexico (Conagua) gave his presentation, “Turning Around Water Utilities in Mexico: The Cases of Puerto Vallarta and San Luis Potosi.” Ibañez said the main goal of his project was to increase the access to drinking water and sanitation services to vulnerable populations in the country. Additionally, the project seeks to increase drinking water coverage to 95% and sewage coverage to 88%. Ermani Ciriaco de Mirando Coordinator fo the Water and Sanitation Modernization Program of Brazil spoke of the “Com + Agua,” a water loss management project organized collaboratively with the public sector and government of Brazil. Rieter summarized the session by reviewing main ideas and concepts exchanged.  RELATED MATERIALS   Turning Around Water Utilities in Mexico: The Cases of Puerto Vallarta and San Luis Potosi (PDF) Water Week 2009: Com + Agua Project (PDF) Related World Bank and Other Links: World Bank Water Week 2009 World Bank: Water Resources Management Related B-SPAN Events: Scaling Up Poverty Reduction Shanghai Conference Anticipating the 3rd World Water Forum: Looking for Lasting Solutions for Poor and Middle-Income Countries RELATED B-SPAN EVENTS Water Supply and Sanitation (31) Water Resources Management (33) Sustainable Development (77)