SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT provides water and sanitation services for 125 million customers worldwide. Nine million of them live below the poverty line.
In Buenos Aires, 20% of the population lives in highly disadvantaged districts or shanty towns. To help meet the challenge of providing access to potable water for these districts, Aguas Argentinas has developed an innovative methodological framework incorporating the characteristic economic, social and institutional aspects of the populations in question.
This methodological framework, defined as a "participatory management model", gives priority to an approach of demand for services by the future beneficiaries rather than an approach of supply of services from the supplier.
An approach adapted to the inhabitants' needs
The development of this programme is based on the methodology decisions resulting from the participation of all the stakeholders: future customers, municipalities, regulator, NGOs and neighbourhood associations, concession operators.
The inhabitants express their requests for connection to the water and/or sanitation networks. They appoint representatives who take part in decision making relating to the project and in management of payment collection.
The local authorities validate the various stages of the project and take part in consultation meetings between the company, local institutions and representatives of the communities.
Aguas Argentinas takes charge of the design and technical management of projects but plans their execution in consultation with all the stakeholders.
To assist the projects, Aguas Argentinas is supported by NGOs and representative neighbourhood associations.
A model applied successfully for the benefit of the communities
Between 2003 and 2005, the participatory management model permitted the incorporation of about 100,000 inhabitants coming from 60 poor districts or slum areas.
In addition to access to the potable water and sanitation networks, this model contributes to the economic and social development of the communities in question, through training plans (technical training for the construction of networks, social and health training concerning the correct use of water), and to job creation, directly or indirectly.
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