National Policy Dialogue on Financing Strategy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Armenia

This publication presents key findings and recommendations of a case study sponsored by the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Environmental Action Programme Task Force (OECD/EAP Task Force). The objective of the study was to help local stakeholders develop a Financing Strategy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) in Armenia by facilitating the National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on this subject. The key challenges were to set up realistic targets and a policy package that covers both improvement of the rural WSS infrastructure (more reliable supply, renovation of supply, extensions of WSS systems, starting to develop minimal water supply standards for rural settlements) and the financing thereof (introducing user charges in places where these do not currently exist, allocating sufficient budgetary resources, acquiring international loans and grants, creating financial facilities for people who cannot afford to pay, etc.).

The study was executed in parallel with another OECD/EAP Task Force project aimed at developing methodological guidelines for Financing Strategies for rural Water Supply and Sanitation, and the methodological dimension is also reflected in the publication.

For additional information on National Policy Dialogue in Armenia, please visit OECD's website at the following link: http://oecd.org/document/45/0,3343,en_2649_34343_42983725_1_1_1_1,00.html#Armenia