Training the water sector managers of tomorrow

Sophie led a module on financial issues for water utilities as part of the Master OpT, an International Executive Masters programme created within the framework of the "Water for All" Chair, jointly established by AgroParisTech and Suez-Environment / Water For All Foundation.

The Masters is aimed at mid-career professionals in water companies who have been identified as the potential General Managers of tomorrow. The 2009/2010 session is run in French and has attracted participants from Francophone Africa and Haiti. The 2010/2011 session will be run in English and aims to attract participants from much broader horizons.

The module included discussion of innovative financial instruments (such as OBA for sanitation) and the formulation of strategic financial decisions based on financial modelling. For the purpose of the module, Nodalis developed a financial model specifically for training, which was used as a basis for role playing. Participants were thrown into the deep end and seemed to have enjoyed it...