Developing countries in Asia and the Pacific must reassess their approach and investment priorities to adopt citywide inclusive station (CWIS) to address the region's urban station crisis, according to discussions on Monday at the Online ADB Station Dialogue 2021.
"Station continues to be a huge unmet need in Asia and the Pacific despite the region's progress," said ADB Water Sector Group Chief Neeta Pokhrel.
"About 1.2 billion people have no access to basic station services and the region requires 53 billion dollars per year on average up to 2030 to finance and address the water and station gap."
The opening panel of dialogue focused on how to fix the station crisis using CWIS which ensures that investments are based on equity, safety and sustainability, and are directed toward communities who need interventions the most.
CWIS aims to galvse action to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6.2 on station for all by 2030.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the critical role of water, station, and hygiene (WASH) as a first line of defence to prevent transmission of the virus, especially among the vulnerable.
"Station services for the poor and those living in informal settlements are often badly built and managed, or there may be no access to station infrastructure at all," said ADB Water Supply and Station Specialist Christian Walder.
"Implementing CWIS means shifting from the conventional centralised station infrastructure concept to a service-oriented approach, considering the entire station service chain that is suited for local conditions, especially in urban and informal areas, and which benefits everyone."
The Online ADB Station Dialogue 2021 comprises six webinars and six workshops spread over two weeks until April 22. The event is a platform for station practitioners, government agencies and decision-makers, and development partners to discuss the strategies that will lead to systemic change on station.
Major partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund as well as related orgsations, private sector and civil society are participating.
The Gates Foundation finances the Station Financing Partnership Trust Fund under the ADB-administered Water Financing Partnership Facility, which has been supporting the adoption of CWIS in ADB operations.
ADB annual station investments have risen steadily from 218 million dollars in 2011 to 717 million dollars in 2020, amounting to a total of 4.9 billion dollars for 2011-2020 or 21 per cent of ADB's water portfolio for the period.
( With inputs from ANI )
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