Environment
Improved management of natural resources and important ecosystem services not only supports economic growth and strengthens resilience to climate change but also can provide the foundation for sustainable development.
Water and Sanitation Services and Management
Given the centrality of clean water and good sanitation to human development and prosperity, our specialists help national governments, local governments, and private companies devise and carry out plans to improve water security, water productivity, and expanded access to clean water and sanitation services. Our solutions are designed to:
- Improve the management of water resources by diverse stakeholders—across the watershed and broader landscape.
- Improve the productivity of water use by farmers.
- Forge cross-border partnerships to enhance transnational river basin management, which is critical for mitigating water scarcity at the regional level, alleviating poverty, improving food security, protecting ecosystems, and advancing livelihoods.
- Achieve public health goals by assisting cities and public utilities to extend clean water and sanitation infrastructure and services, and by helping to develop policies, regulations, and finance mechanisms that make household access to clean water and basic sanitation more feasible and affordable.
Our Experts
George Akl is an institutional governance and development expert with 25 years of experience working with international donors supporting water and wastewater, environment, and private sector engagement programs across the Middle East and North Africa.
Nilu Puri Basnyat is an experienced program manager and technical specialist for governance and environmental water projects in Nepal.
Nabil Chemaly is a senior water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) development expert with more than 15 years designing and implementing donor-funded projects in more than 10 countries in Africa and the Middle East, with a particular focus on water utility management, sector governance, and regulation.
Jette Findsen has experience working internationally and domestically on issues of climate change, natural resources management, clean energy, and climate finance.
Daniel O’Neil has more than 30 years of experience directing a wide range of international development projects in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
A professional engineer by training, Bill has led numerous infrastructure and development projects for donors in countries around the world. He contributes to DAI’s water, environment, and infrastructure programs as part of the Technical Services team.
Alma Porciuncula has been leading DAI’s work in the Philippines on innovative financing for water supply and sanitation projects, policy, and regulatory and utility reform since 1994.
Richard Rapier for 15 years has worked in domestic and international programs addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), water and waste resource management, and environmental and social impact assessment and management in infrastructure.
Darren Saywell has 25 years of experience in practice, research and policy development in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), with a particular focus on solutions in urban environments.
Heather Skilling has more than 25 years of experience in strengthening water and sanitation service delivery through analytic, project design, evaluation, and consulting work with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), consulting firms, and others.
Our Projects
Nepal—Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS)
The Nepal Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS) works across the Karnali River Basin in Western Nepal to promote healthy, resilient, and water-secure communities by improving water resources management practices, drinking water supply and multiple-use systems, and fecal sludge management access and treatment plants.
Read MoreLebanon—Water, Sanitation, and Conservation (WSC) Project
WSC is increasing the volumes of wastewater treated, reducing the pollution and water losses that harm water sources, improving service delivery to citizens, and facilitating partnerships between public water utilities, municipalities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and citizen groups to introduce innovative solutions and improve governance in the water and wastewater sector across Lebanon.
Read MoreMozambique—Local Governance Strengthening (LOGOS)
The Mozambique Local Governance Strengthening (LOGOS) project supports the Government of the Republic of Mozambique’s efforts to decentralize governance and thereby improve delivery of public services at central, provincial, district, and/or municipal levels.
Read MorePhilippines—Safe Water
The Philippines Safe Water project provides local government units, water service providers, and watershed councils with the information, incentives, and partnerships they require to identify and address barriers to a water-secure future.
Read MoreHaiti—USAID Water and Sanitation project
The USAID Water and Sanitation project works with private-sector partners and national and local government institutions in Haiti to help 250,000 people gain access to basic water services and 75,000 Haitians gain access to basic sanitation services.
Read MoreIraq—Governance and Performance Accountability (IGPA)/Takamul
The Iraq Governance and Performance Accountability (IGPA)/Takamul project supports the Iraqi Government to shore up fiscal stability while rapidly and visibly improving service delivery.
Read MoreNepal—Paani
The Paani program worked with local and national counterparts to conserve freshwater biodiversity and implement sustainable water management practices in Nepal.
Read MoreIndonesia—Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (IUWASH, IUWASH PLUS)
Despite positive economic growth in recent years, urban Indonesia still suffers from one of the lowest rates of access to safe water and improved sanitation in the region. USAID’s IUWASH Penyehatan Lingkungan untuk Semua, or Environmental Health for All (IUWASH PLUS), is working to expand access to water and sanitation services to hundreds of thousands of low-income urban households.
Read MoreWorldwide—Water for Africa through Leadership and Institutional Support (WALIS)
The WALIS program provides technical, programmatic, administrative, and logistical support to USAID in improving the capacity of African water sectors.
Read MoreLebanon—Water Project (LWP)
The Lebanon Water Project (LWP) increased reliable and sustainable access to water for Lebanese citizens, improved water management practices, enhanced the efficiency and sustainability of the public water utilities, and responded to water issues arising from the influx of Syrian refugees.
Read MoreKenya—Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project (KIWASH)
The Kenya Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project (KIWASH) project combined nutrition programming with improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Read MoreNigeria—Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase III (WSSSRPIII)
The Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase III in Nigeria contributed to poverty reduction, sustainable development, and to the achievement of the water and sanitation-related Millennium Development Goals.
Read MoreGuatemala—Nexos Locales
Nexos Locales works with municipalities in Guatemala’s Western Highlands to foster more responsive, inclusive, and effective socio-economic development while reducing local vulnerabilities such as food insecurity and natural disasters. To achieve this goal, the project works at the intersection—or nexos—of good governance.
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DAI History: 40 Years of Excellence
DAI was founded in 1970 by three graduates of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government intent on providing a more dynamic and effective brand of development assistance. See how DAI is turning this American success story, into a global one.
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