Beginning on January 26, the WRG will be housed at IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. This follows a two-year incubation period at the World Economic Forum.
The WRG mobilizes public and private sector actors, civil society, and academic and finance institutions to help change the political economy for water reform in countries—by analyzing key issues and convening groups to engage in substantive dialogue and design joint solutions.
Findings from the WRG’s country-by-country analysis and expertise drawn from its world-class network will help inform and accelerate governments’ efforts to implement sustainable changes in their water sectors in ways that support economic growth. Since June 2010, the WRG has partnered with country governments to pilot its unique public-private-civil-society model for water sector transformation.
Prior to joining the WRG, Mr. Berntell was Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute, where he was responsible for the overall development and direction of SIWI’s activities. Mr. Berntell's appointment is effective March 1, 2012.
Mr. Berntell commented:
“I am very excited about my new role as Executive Director of the Water Resources Group. Growing competition for scarce water resources has highlighted the strong links between water-resource management and economic development. The work of the Water Resources Group has helped to move decisions about water resources higher up the political agenda at this critical juncture.”
In 2011, the WRG engaged with country governments, at their invitation, to develop comprehensive strategy and action plans for water reform. Building on the cost-curve tools introduced in the 2009 report “Charting Our Water Future,” the WRG has used country-tailored analysis tools to develop water transformation plans and leveraged its extensive public-private-civil society network to establish in-country multi-stakeholder coalitions that tackle scarcity in Jordan, Karnataka state in India, Mexico, Mongolia, Shanxi province in China, and South Africa.
Leading Spanish economist Luis Fernandez has joined environmental solutions provider ACWA Emirates as Chief Officer Concessions for the MENA region to provide in-depth support for the company’s drive into the public-private partnership (PPP) sector.
for use in chlorine monitoring equipment after similar pumps were found less reliable. 
Welsh Water’s challenge to upgrade the sewage infrastructure within the £multi-million brownfield Swansea Waterfront re-development was facilitated with an innovative Hydro Vortex Drop™ shaft solution from Hydro International.
