Innovation in Rural Water Supply

This session showcased projects and case studies using innovative financing and partnerships to support resilient and sustainable rural water supply services. It explores the challenge statement: “How might we use innovative financing to strengthen rural water supply systems and create space for locally relevant innovation?”

We brought together experiences from Cambodia, Georgia, and Antioquia, Colombia, looking at different approaches to financing investments, strengthening service providers, and enabling innovation to be tested and adapted to local needs.

Our speakers:

• Maria Pia Ancora, Principal Urban Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank

  Maria Pia Ancora is a development professional with over 20 years of experience in Asia, leading climate-resilient urban development programs and advising on environmental policy. Her work covers sustainable transport, energy, air pollution, water, circular economy, and, more recently, special economic zones. Since 2019, she has overseen the Asian Development Bank’s urban, water, and climate programs in the South Caucasus. An Italian native, she holds a master’s in environmental engineering and land use planning from Trento University, Italy, and a PhD in environmental science and engineering from Tsinghua University, China.

• Leonellha Baretto Dillon, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, cewas:

  Leonellha Baretto Dillon is an expert in innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity building in the water and sanitation sector, with more than 20 years of international experience. She is the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at cewas. She has designed and implemented incubation and acceleration programs in more than 20 countries, supporting over 45 water and sanitation sector ventures. She collaborates with organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Health Organization, and is a co-creator of the SSWM Toolbox. She is a chemical engineer with a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and an MBA in Entrepreneurship.

• Samol Ya, Senior Project Officer (Infrastructure), Cambodia Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank

  Samol Ya has more than 15 years of experience in transport, water and urban development, and rural infrastructure. He holds a bachelor’s and advanced degrees in engineering. Currently, he leads the administration of rural and urban development projects, including a sector development program to improve access to rural water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services for Cambodia.

The session was moderated by Siti Hasanah, Senior Urban Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank, and was delivered in partnership with the Rural Water Supply Network.