A Water Operators Partnership (WOP) project between the Da Nang Water Supply JSC and the Philippines-based Manila Water Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (MWAP) is being implemented in the city in order to promote WOPs in the Asia –Pacific region.

Under the cooperation project, MWAP is the ‘mentor’ whilst Dawaco is the ‘mentee’.

This is part of the Sustainability Improvement Plans (SIP) supported by the Global Water Operators Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), which is the organisation set up to promote and support WOPs worldwide.

Under the cooperation project, which is being implemented within 18 months, starting from October 2019 until April 2021, MWAP helps Dawaco enhance its operational efficiency to develop into a professional water service provider.

MWAP and Dawaco have reached a consensus on implementing 4 priority items, namely the reduction of water loss in 2 certain areas in Hai Chau District, the asset management at the Cau Do (Red Bridge) Water Plant, human resource development and customer services.

WOPs are peer support partnerships between water and sanitation utilities aiming to share knowledge and skills to make utilities stronger, healthier, and more resilient. In a WOP, a ‘mentor’ partner works with its ‘recipient’ peer to identify and overcome service delivery challenges through a jointly defined work program.

Lasting 12-24 months, a typical WOP includes technical consultation, specialised on-the-job training, technology demonstration, peer review of procedures and systems, and information exchange.

WOPs offer mutual benefits through cooperation. Recipients are able to improve operations and expand services by adopting new policies and practices, and building their skills and capabilities. Mentor partners also enhance their skills by applying knowledge in new settings, and achieve their sustainability goals.