Executive summary

This report examines innovative financing mechanisms that can help attract new financial resources into water and sanitation services (WSS ). A particular focus is placed on mobilising market-based repayable financing (such as loans, bonds and equity) as a way of bridging the financial gap to meet the Millennium Development Goals and other crucial sector objectives. The Camdessus and Gurria reports, published in 2003 and 2006 respectively, formulated a number of recommendations in this area. This report examines the extent to which these recommendations have been implemented and how financial innovation may need to adapt to the rapidly evolving global context and to the ongoing financial and economic crisis.