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Experience from working with WB in the area of Water Resources Management

Experience from working with WB in the area of Water Resources Management. Harsha Ratnaweera Director Business Development, NIVA- Norwegian Institute for Water Research Professor on Water & Wastewater Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås. NIVA.

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Experience from working with WB in the area of Water Resources Management

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  1. Experience from working with WB in the area of Water Resources Management Harsha Ratnaweera Director Business Development, NIVA- Norwegian Institute for Water Research Professor on Water & Wastewater Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås.

  2. NIVA • A private foundation, with 12% state grant • National centre for water related R&D • 200 empl.(120 specialists), USD 25 mill turnover • Experience from >60 countries, during 25 years • 15% are Development Projects

  3. Our priorities • In general, we follow the Norwegian national priorities • 80’s : Africa • Early 90’s: Eastern Europe • Late 90’s: Asia (China) • Early 2000’: Balkan • Development projects • 75% Norwegian funding • 10-15% World Bank • Size: • < 2 mln USD: Lead consultant • Bigger projects: Sub consultant to N- consulting companies.

  4. Our success in WB projects

  5. Why World Bank projects? • Water and Environment are priorities • Access to new markets • Access to an extraordinary knowledge base • Learning process to become more disciplined and attractive consultants • Attractive financing source, at times.

  6. Entrance • A relatively high threshold • Patience • Professionalism

  7. Competition • Competing with thousands of consultants and firms with • many years of professional experience, • Many years of country experience, • personal contacts, • government assistance, • Lot of marketing and lobbying resources • and networking.

  8. Role of Norwegian Authorities • Norwegian Trade Council until 2000 • Assist in arranging meetings • Following up with WB TMs • Facilitating relevant information • Norwegian Embassy since then: • Arranging the WB-N Forum • Assistance in arranging meetings

  9. Role of Norwegian Mechanisms • Norwegian Consultancy Trust Fund • 50% for N-Consultants, TM can request funding and often quickly and locally decided. • Good success • TF ESSD: • Financed by N, but with no restrictions. • Less success • Other TF: not much relevant for past projects

  10. Formalities • Need to register as a “Vendor” • Not sure what else are the benefits…

  11. Either in or out?? • Difficult to come in… • Once in, try to best, and better… • Second contract is easier… • Third is even more easier… • Personal contacts and references seems to mean a lot

  12. Dollar Factor • USD 500-600 independent consultant & USD 550-900 for a company per day. Note: there are companies who work gladly for USD 500-600/day !!

  13. Need for follow up • Need to be “visible” and “remembered” by TMs.. • Frequent visits • Emails/telephones (WB staff is more keen to reply to emails than NORAD)… • Frequent Bidding and applications • Dollar factor and the other markets unfortunately distract the attention to WB

  14. Even if the NOK/$ is low… • There are reasons to work with WB: • New markets : countries, regions • Networking & Contacts with new clients • Valuable references

  15. Bidding process • Projects funded by NORAD and MFA: often take months/years, and a heavy uncertainty • Bidding projects: relatively small, quick and predictable start-up • Difficult to find the suitable tender opportunities (local media..?)

  16. Conclusion • WB – still an attractive client/financier • Not only the direct remuneration -. But many indirect positive impacts • NIVA will look for a slight increase in WB projects

  17. Thank you

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