WOPs International activities are focused on
Operational support for WOPs: Such support will be provided by WOPs International worlwide. The organization will support in-country, as well as intra- and inter-regional WOPs projects. Operational support will be provided at all stages of WOPs projects starting with matchmaking and brokering efforts between potential mentor and beneficiary utilities, and continuing through the facilitation of all implementation stages along with the needed guidance, monitoring, and evaluation of such projects.
Project Implementation of WOPs: The Organization will support the implementation of these projects with the dissemination of, and training on, WOPs operational tools and proven best practices. It will also ensure the adherence of all projects to the WOPs standards and guiding principles and protect the reputation of the WOPs brand and practice. Through its operational support efforts, the organization will ensure anchoring the WOPs projects to local enabling environment of the beneficiary water operator in order to enhance buy-in at all levels and connect WOPs with other development assistance efforts to the water and sanitation sector at local and national levels.
Global Advocacy for WOPs: WOPs International promotes WOPs worldwide through high-level advocacy efforts at water related regional and international fora such as the World Water Forum, the World Water Week, IWA congresses, African Water Week, Arab Water Week, etc. This will be done in collaboration with active WOPs stakeholders such as regional WOPs platforms, participating utilities (both mentors and beneficiaries), and WOPs experts. The organization will build links to international cooperation agencies and bilateral and multi-lateral donors in order to facilitate and enhance the support of such agencies to the WOPs approach.
WOPs Guidance: WOPs International augments the advocacy and operational support of WOPs with the needed documentation and dissemination of information and knowledge on the WOPs approach in collaboration with development partners and research institutes. The Organization will use the gathered information to guide the WOPs practice and promote the integration of good knowledge transfer practices in peer-to-peer exchange settings within its operational support to WOPs to enhance cost-effectiveness and impact. WOPs case studies and best practices will be documented, and research and trend analysis will be conducted, in order to develop the needed guiding material on WOPs implementation.
Connection to Financial Support: WOPs International works on connecting WOPs practitioners and partners to financial resources for funding of pre-investment capacity development, as well as follow-up investments for infrastructure. We believe that capacity development and technical assistance alone are no substitute for the capital investments that will enable the world’s water utilities to meet the SDGs. The key to resource mobilization in a competitive financial environment is to demonstrate results and impact. Therefore, this activity will be integrated and coordinated with the organization’s full range of activities in WOPs operational support, advocacy, and guidance.