Public-Private and Community Participation in Water Resource Management: The Missing Dimension- The Power of Three

The call to find more sustainable ways to protect water resources and improve water related services has yielded a number of important strategies. One such course of action is that of Public-Private and Community Participation. As the name denotes the approach derives its strength from voluntary collaborations between governments, the private sector and the local communities. To create these relationships is no easy feat but the potential of such an alliance to accomplish positive results due to their combined strengths and capabilities is incentive enough for consideration. This paper attempts to highlight the attributes of this approach and how its application to the water sector where appropriate can alleviate some of the chronic problems it is combating. The Public-Private and Community Participation Concept is not a cure for all that ails the water sector, each country must make its own assessments as per to the merits of this strategy based on their water needs and its suitability to the fulfilment of those needs