The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated necessary public health measures required to combat it, are presenting water service providers and governments globally with several challenges, including threats to the continuity of service provision. Given the importance of handwashing and adequate water supply provision in disease prevention generally, and in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in particular, it is imperative that service providers can rapidly identify any bottlenecks in continuing, and expanding, uninterrupted service delivery.

Given this context, the World Bank Water Global Practice has developed inter alia the following tools to equip Bank task teams and government counterparts/service providers with guidance to respond to the COVID19 crisis situation with regards the impact on financial standing of water service providers: (i) COVID-19 Financial Impact Assessment Tool, which is a financial planning tool that can be utilized to quantify the financial impact of the pandemic on the monthly cash flows of the water and sanitation service providers; and (ii) Considerations for Financial Facilities to Support Water Utilities in Crisis, which is a guidance note that lays out the principles to consider in designing the financial/liquidity facilities to support water service providers in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.