Promising potential impact on Official Development Assistance

Many actions carried out thanks to solidarity financing help to bring water and sanitation problems to the front of the political stage in the North. Far from replacing ODA, these initiatives encourage a heightened political awareness in the North that leads to stronger commitment from the government in financing overseas development.

In New Zealand, the government has undertaken to contribute $NZ2 for every $NZ1 mobilised by the Water for Survival programme of Oxfam NZ.

The Dutch government contributes 1 Euro for each Euro mobilised by Aqua for All. In 2005, of Aqua for All's total income of 2.5 million Euros, 1 million Euros came from the government.

And it is not only in an increase of overseas development aid that the effects of solidarity financing can be felt. The supporters of different mechanisms have proven their ability to communicate on the results of their actions with users in the North. Solidarity fosters solidarity: the success of these initiatives makes it possible to mobilise additional individual and corporate donations to develop similar actions.