Why Partner with Water Sector Trust Fund (WSTF)? Our Competitive Advantage

WSTF has successfully established delivery mechanisms and partnerships that give it a competitive advantage within the Kenyan Water Sector. It is based on a unique competitive advantage emanating from the following key factors that demonstrate why funds are well invested when being channelled through WSTF:

1. Pro-poor targeting: WSTF is the only institution with a statutory mandate for providing financial support for increased access to water and sanitation services to marginalised and underserved in the country. It is financing secondary infrastructure that is ‘going the last mile’.
2. Transparent and participatory: Transparent selection criteria are applied for financing investment proposals, including the technical, social and financial aspects. The water utilities need to apply for funds according to proven demands that are estimated through transparent criteria. The process of applying for funds from WSTF, and the manner in which funds are prioritised, disbursed to and utilised by implementing agents, is clearly documented. This ensures that resources are used as they ought to be, and audit queries are keenly followed up. WSTF handles the resources entrusted to it with integrity, and in a transparent, accountable manner. The Fund’s activities are audited annually by independent and internationally reputed firms. WSTF holds two Steering Committee meetings on a regular basis in which the progress of projects is discussed. The continuous reporting to partners plays a big role in accountability. WSTF also manages political, financial and operational risks.
3. Capacity development for sustainability: WSTF has built adequate human capital, technical and operational capacity to handle diverse expectations from development partners. Sustainability is secured through regular operations monitoring of infrastructure facilitated by infrastructure that is GPS-referenced and documented.
4. Technical standards: WSTF has established technical standards and controls the quality of the construction process through monitoring and field visits. It finances last mile infrastructure, meaning secondary infrastructure that connects low-income areas to the existing large scale infrastructure and facilities. WSTF provides value for money and a low cost per beneficiary through cost-efficient standardisation and documented systems.
5. Wide partner base: WSTF has built a network of mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships resulting in achievement of shared objectives and embedment in the Kenyan Water Sector.
6. Harmonised investment support: Repeating call cycles lead to continuous institutional learning and improvement, and to updating of technological solutions and business models. Harmonised funding systems have over the years been reviewed for continuing responsiveness to dynamic sector demands and operations. Scaling up works best if embedded in national structures (e.g. Water Fund and utilities) and is a long-term process (three to four years to develop the institutions and instruments, and 20 to 30 years to reach full service coverage), which can be assured by WSTF.

WSTF has over the years built extensive experience in the management of development partner-funded programmes, appraisal systems and monitoring structures focused on underserved areas in Kenya. Different African countries are benchmarking against WSTF to develop and improve their own systems. Within the water sector, WSTF occupies a unique position with the experiences acquired during the implementation of its investment programmes.

The entire sector benefits from WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) best practices and innovative solutions that have been developed and successfully implemented at all levels: household, institutional, community, water service providers (WSPs) and at the WSTF level. These achievements have been made through continual engagement with the parent Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), the regulator (WASREB), the water services boards (WSBs), the counties, the WSPs and relevant civil society organisations.

Our Partners

• Ministry of Water & Sanitation and Irrigation (MWI)
• County Governments

Water Sector and Other Government Institutions

• Water Resources Authority (WRA)
• Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB)
• National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority
• Kenya Water Institute
• Water Works Development Agencies
• Kenya Forest Service

Current Development Partners

• Government of Sweden
• Government of Denmark 
• Government of Finland
• European Union (EU)
• German Development Bank (KfW)
• World Bank
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Saudi Fund for Development (SFD)
• Kenya Markets Trust
• Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)
• SNV
• Water Integrity Network (WIN)

Previous Development Partners

• Vitens Evides International
• German Technical Cooperation (GIZ)
• Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)
• Agile Harmonized Assistance for Devolved Institutions (AHADI)
• Kingdom of the Netherlands
• UNICEF
• African Development Bank

Implementing Partners

• Water Service Providers (WSPs)
• Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)
• Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs)
• Community Forest Associations (CFAs)

Memberships

• International Water Association (IWA)
• Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA)