Experience from working with WB in the area of Water Resources

Management

Harsha RatnaweeraDirector Business Development, NIVA- Norwegian Institute for Water Research

Professor on Water & Wastewater Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås.

NIVA

A private foundation, with 12% state grantNational centre for water related R&D200 empl.(120 specialists), USD 25 mill turnoverExperience from >60 countries, during 25 years15% are Development Projects

Our priorities

In general, we follow the Norwegian national priorities 80’s : Africa Early 90’s: Eastern Europe Late 90’s: Asia (China) Early 2000’: Balkan

Development projects 75% Norwegian funding 10-15% World Bank

Size: < 2 mln USD: Lead consultant Bigger projects: Sub consultant to N- consulting companies.

Our success in WB projectsProject name Where partners Period

Wastewater Action Plan Mongolia 2003

Coastal Zone Mgmt Tanzania 2002

Urban Development studies Caribbean C 2003

Thu Bon Basin Plan Vietnam 2001-2002

NEAP revision Mongolia NIBR 2000

Coastal Zone Management in Ghana Ghana 1999-2000

Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Prog.(NEL-SAP) Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda,

NORPLAN NIVA sub-consultant

2000

Water Sector Project Senegal 1998-2001

Water Resources Action Plan Zambia ICI, NCI, RBI Consul 1997-2000

Limnological study of Murchinson Bay and Napoleon Gulf Uganda U of Wien 1996

National hydropower plan Vietnam NVE 1996

Sri Lanka Port Efficiency Improvement Project Sri Lanka U of Moratuwa, SL 1997-1998

Water Management and hydropower generation study Ukraine Norplan 1997-1999

PIAC: Planning of an Integrated Acidification Study on Acid Rain Impacts

China NILU, NINA, UiO, 1997-1998

Why World Bank projects?

Water and Environment are priorities Access to new markets Access to an extraordinary knowledge base Learning process to become more disciplined

and attractive consultants Attractive financing source, at times.

Entrance

A relatively high threshold

Patience Professionalism

Competition

Competing with thousands of consultants and firms with many years of professional experience, Many years of country experience, personal contacts, government assistance, Lot of marketing and lobbying resources and networking.

Role of Norwegian Authorities

Norwegian Trade Council until 2000 Assist in arranging meetings Following up with WB TMs Facilitating relevant information

Norwegian Embassy since then: Arranging the WB-N Forum Assistance in arranging meetings

Role of Norwegian Mechanisms

Norwegian Consultancy Trust Fund 50% for N-Consultants, TM can request funding and often

quickly and locally decided. Good success

TF ESSD: Financed by N, but with no restrictions. Less success

Other TF: not much relevant for past projects

Formalities

Need to register as a “Vendor”Not sure what else are the benefits…

Either in or out??

Difficult to come in…Once in, try to best, and better…Second contract is easier…Third is even more easier…

Personal contacts and references seems to mean a lot

Dollar Factor

USD 500-600 independent consultant & USD 550-900 for a company per day.

Daily rate, $ NOK/$=6 NOK/$=9.5

500 375 594

600 450 713

900 675 1069

1100 825 1306

Note: there are companies who work gladly for USD 500-600/day !!

Need for follow up

Need to be “visible” and “remembered” by TMs.. Frequent visits Emails/telephones (WB staff is more keen to reply to

emails than NORAD)… Frequent Bidding and applications

Dollar factor and the other markets unfortunately distract the attention to WB

Even if the NOK/$ is low…

There are reasons to work with WB: New markets : countries, regions Networking & Contacts with new clients Valuable references

Bidding process

Projects funded by NORAD and MFA: often take months/years, and a heavy uncertainty

Bidding projects: relatively small, quick and predictable start-up

Difficult to find the suitable tender opportunities (local media..?)

Conclusion

WB – still an attractive client/financier

Not only the direct remuneration -. But many indirect positive impacts

NIVA will look for a slight increase in WB projects

Thank you