Power of Two: Boosting Performance Through Twinning

Abstract

Hai Phong is a bustling Viet Nam port city of more than 1 million people, located near the world-renowned Ha Long Bay. Just some 900 kilometers away is Da Nang, another growing city often remembered for its sweeping bay, China Beach, and nearby Marble Mountain. Hai Phong and Da Nang share a significant challenge - providing quality, reliable drinking water to their communities in the most economical and efficient way possible. However, Hai Phong is more successful at this than Da Nang. Thus, in May 2008, Hai Phong committed to help Da Nang with its drinking water services under a twinning program initiated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 'I see great value in learning from similar utilities, because they have demonstrated methods that achieve results,' says Da Nang Water Supply Company General Director Nguyen Truong Anh. The arrangement between Da Nang and Hai Phong is one of 11 utility twinning partnerships established with ADB's help since 2007. The latest two extend the reach of the Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs) Program into the Pacific and the People's Republic of China, with partnerships formed in Tonga and Zheng Zhou. This brief explains the advantages of twinning arrangements.