Background
The idea of establishing SEAWUN started in 2001, but was taken up seriously in 2002, with a large meeting in Hanoi in August 2002. A proposal for the establishment of SEAWUN was prepared by a group consisting representatives from Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia with financial support from USAEP and ADB. The result of the meeting was a strong commitment from all members to establish SEAWUN. The (rotating) presidency for the first three year goes to Indonesia and the permanent secretariat is located in Hanoi, Vietnam. The following recommendations were made during the last year meetings:

Objective
To help the members improve their performance in the delivery of water services. This includes to improve efficiency in operation and management, and advocating reforms in the sector to improve the policy environment.

Strategies
• Sharing experience, expertise in operations/management + new technologies;
• sharing of reports & studies conducted for members and other organizations, consultants, contractors, etc;
• sharing of performance data and indicators on performance improvement programs and training programs;
• use of email and websites for communication, posting of information and e-conferencing and discussion of specific issues;
• twinning agreements between member utilities for observation, training and process benchmarking;
• linkage, consultation and collaboration with national WS associations and related regional and international organizations;
• development and maintenance of database of information to be used in performance improvement of members; and
• provision of services to members and other water utilities in a cost effective manner.

Organization
• Water Utilities in South East Asia from initially 5 countries: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines will be asked to nominate up to three water utility members as charter members of the Network.
• A governing board with one representative of each country will govern the Network and will be responsible for policies and program direction.
• A secretariat for daily activities and implementation of activities.
• Program committees will be created for specific activities/programs.

Resources
• Member contributions (all member associations and water utilities);
• earnings from services provided (consulting, training, data selling);
• fund generating activities (advertisements on website, conferences/exhibitions); and
• donor funding (during start up and later for major activities).

Proposed programs (short term) – Years 1 and 2
• Creation and development of SEAWUN website, newsletter and sponsorship;
• preparation of basic information /profiles of member water utilities;
• performance data and Indicator for members;
• listing Performance improvement programs, including Benchmarking exercises by member countries;
• fund generating activities;
• training needs analysis, exchange of existing + development of new programs; and
• listing current report / studies / links.

Key issues to be addressed: tariff setting for full cost recovery, water loss reduction.

Proposed programs (mid/long term) – Years 3 to 5
• Inventory all utilities in member countries;
• 3rd Water Utility data book;
• information on participation between Utilities and Private Sector
• conferences / seminars / exhibitions;
• listing / profile of water utility experts in region;
• compilation of National standards, government policies, laws and regulations; and
• compilation of case studies of successful WS projects in service delivery, including lessons learned.