Cowater International Inc. is a private Canadian consulting company established in 1985, specializing in international development. Cowater possesses a broad multidisciplinary capacity with a staff that includes engineers, institutional and financial experts, social scientists, and project managers. Cowater works primarily on projects financed by international funding agencies the World Bank, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, United Nations Agencies, the Department for International Development (DFID), and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) but it also works directly with the governments of developing countries, the private sector and civil society. In Asia specifically, Cowater has completed more than thirty development projects including two very successful assignments in the Philippines. Cowater is a dynamic company which, during its 28-year history, has grown from three original partners to 41 headquarters employees and more than 400 project staff overseas. The company has permanent subsidiary operations in South Africa (Cowater-CRG (Pty) Ltd.) and the United States (Cowater Alaska). Cowater offers services at the policy, program and project levels, developing and managing major projects as well as undertaking studies, sector reviews, evaluations, and training and communications activities. We emphasize human, community and institutional capacity building using a structured approach to change, which links our technical expertise to the needs of our clients. We strongly believe in participatory approaches to development, which encourages stakeholder “buy-in” and ensures sustainability.The company specializes in five main sectors:- water supply, sanitation and environment;- social development;- accounting, auditing and financial management;- financial institutions; and- municipal services and enterprise development.Water, Sanitation and Environment Group:Cowater’s Water, Sanitation and Environment Group focuses on the planning and provision of accessible potable water, good hygiene, sustainable sanitation, and a livable environment as essential requirements of health, productivity and a good quality of life. Our focus is on project implementation and the capacity building of institutions, community organizations and people, as well as appropriate affordable technology. We incorporate government, non-government and private sector institutions into our project designs, and put great emphasis on involving the beneficiary community in project and program planning and decision-making. The community is assisted to operate and maintain the facilities through training and the establishment of community-based management structures.Cowater also works closely with governments to assist in institutional strengthening and reform, planning for both the rural and urban sectors, setting of tariffs, cost recovery and water resources management. We also work with private businesses to provide them with opportunities to supply sustainable and competitively-priced goods and services in these sectors. Cowater emphasizes the important linkages between water, sanitation, health and the environment. Environmental sanitation and hygiene education are essential elements to the integrated package of services, without which only partial benefits are accrued.Social Development Group:Specialists with Cowater’s Social Development Group help strengthen institutions and programs which empower poor people. They advise on approaches to community and rural development and offer specialized services in such areas as institutional strengthening, gender equality, social communication, communication for development, participatory approaches, income generation, community mobilization, and designing multi-sectoral development programs for disadvantaged groups. rnrn Public Financial Management and Accountability (PFMA) Group:Cowater’s PFMA Group is a team of experienced financial management experts and debt management specialists, recognized for their achievements in enhancing accountability and institutional strengthening within the public (national and municipal) sector. Cowater’s specialists have assisted numerous governments at all levels in improving their accounting, budgeting and auditing performance. Financial Institutions Group:Cowater Financial Institutions Group promotes effective operation, management and governance of financial institutions worldwide. This includes working directly with state and commercial banks, regulatory agencies/institutions, and savings and credit institutions to support enhanced systems and operations in line with international best practices. Municipal Services and Enterprise Group:Cowater’s Municipal Services and Enterprise Group manages multidisciplinary projects that combine and build upon the expertise of the company’s core groups. This group covers a variety of sectors, but areas of special concentration are public sector governance, decentralization, municipal services and management, and social/infrastructure fund management.