The team from Wedgewood White, Paul Webber, and Paul White shared their experiences about the financial impacts of COVID-19 and some of the strategies that have been put into place by utilities to ensure their ongoing financial sustainability during the pandemic.

Alexandra Conroy from ADB’s Pacific Department moderated the session.

The workshop provided information on the range of designs that have been implemented around the world to support improved handwashing. While this has not historically been a role for utilities, there is strong demand in many countries for utilities to support handwashing as a COVID-19 response measure.

This invitation-only event was organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and was a knowledge-sharing event under the “Space in Support for International Development Assistance,” a global initiative in partnership with ADB, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the World Bank.

The Pacific WASH Webinar Series is a collaboration between the ADB and the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) with its member utilities supported through WASH Regional TA-6551 Strengthening WASH Practices and Hygiene Behavioral Change in the Pacific.

The first webinar of the Virtual Dialogues on Resilient Infrastructure for 2021 focused on "business unusual for resilient urban infrastructure”. The webinar brought together experts and practitioners to discuss opportunities to accelerate innovation for resilient urban infrastructure.

16:00–18:30 Tokyo time

13:00–15:00 Tokyo time

Background

As the 21st-century transitions into a new decade, 453 million people across Asia and the Pacific still defecate in the open. About 1.2 billion people have no access to basic sanitation services. Of these numbers, 72% live in rural areas.