Who governs water resources in developing countries? : a critique of the World Bank's approach to water resources development

Discusses the transformation of the agenda of public sector reform in Developing Countries within G-7 governments, the multilateral lending institutions they control, and transnational corporations which influence both groups. Decades of disappointment with foreign aid have transformed that agenda into a debate about how to privatize basic services, especially
water and power. The role of the World Bank in this new water related strategies is central, asking questions such as: are water and sanitation indiscriminate privatized?; Where is the water agenda in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers? Other items deal with dams and other infrastructure; Compliance with operational policies; Mechanisms for managing water; PR campaigns to expedite water privatization; Cost recovery and financing; and Social and environmental concerns about poverty. Prerequisites for good governance are listed and recommendations are made to the World Bank's shareholders. Attachments hold the Outline of Proposed Water and Sanitation Business Strategy of the World Bank Group; a list of World Bank-spawned institutions and partnerships; and two case studies from The Philippines and Ghana on long-term Bank loans precluding public provision of water.