BergerWorld: 4th Quarter 2004

Encouraging low-income communities to invest in the design, construction and operation of water supply and sanitation improvements may seem like a daunting task, but through a new World Bank initiative, over 40 Cambodian provincial towns are doing just that. Participating towns are working with the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) to design, build and operate new water supply and sanitation systems. The need for potable water and improved sewage in these areas is great. In project towns on the border of Thailand, for example, women and children must walk through mine fields to reach wells.

The innovative Cambodia Provincial and Peri-Urban Water and Sanitation project will mark a turning point for these towns by providing local contractors with the opportunity to participate in the design, construction and operation of the new water systems. Under this project, the Berger Group is working with local participants and MIME to design, tender and construct new water networks in 42 provincial towns. Given Cambodia's limited management and financial resource base, the key to the success of this program is the development of viable partnerships between participating communities, the government and the private sector. To create such partnerships, Berger is testing and evaluating two investment models, a private build, own and operate model and a government-financed and privately-leased model.

Throughout the course of the Provincial and Peri-Urban Water and Sanitation project, Berger will work with MIME program managers to prepare tender documents, establish transparent procedures for evaluating proposals, monitoring and reporting the status of projects and coordinate the activities of various international donors and NGO groups. Berger is also drafting program management, quality assurance and construction supervision manuals to assist MIME in meeting international standards. During construction, Berger engineers will be responsible for construction supervision and certification of payments. This innovative program will also increase local health standards by reducing levels of water-borne diseases and serve as a nationwide model while stimulating local economies and strengthening entrepreneurs.