Safe Water Currency for Peace Act of 2005 - Fall

Advisor: Blaine Pope

This report examines the global challenge of inadequate access to safe drinking water and sanitation, particularly in developing regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Water-related diseases continue to cause millions of deaths annually and pose major barriers to economic development, public health, and education. The project analyzes the proposed Safe Water: Currency for Peace Act of 2005, which seeks to address these issues by encouraging private sector participation in water infrastructure development. The legislation aims to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 by providing investment insurance and financial incentives to support water and sanitation projects in developing countries, thereby mobilizing private capital to complement traditional development assistance and expand access to essential infrastructure.

Assuming the Act is enacted, the report proposes an implementation strategy centered on the creation of a Safe Water Pilot Program Implementation Office (SWaPPI) within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This office would oversee a five-year pilot program designed to stimulate investment in water infrastructure in selected developing countries. The report outlines the program’s organizational structure, staffing needs, budget, performance management system, and implementation timeline. It also emphasizes the importance of partnerships between governments, international organizations, NGOs, and private investors. By establishing clear institutional responsibilities and monitoring mechanisms, the proposal aims to test whether market-based incentives and public-private collaboration can effectively improve water access while contributing to broader development and poverty-reduction goals.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.