Henry Cordes is Principal at Sciens Water. Sciens is a research-driven investment fund that identifies uncovered, under-researched, or misunderstood water sector opportunities that are undercapitalized.

I could say a lot about the pre-conceptions out there on the involvement of private capital in the Water Sector. I've already told several times the story of when a group of university professors named me the devil's right hand for explaining during a conference how private capital could help solve some of our water challenges.

But this time, I'll play it slightly differently, I'll pass on the microphone to a student I met at the Columbia Water Center in New York. I think it sums it all.

I've often been very quick to dismiss the role of the private sector. I've often been led to believe that the privatization of water is inherently and unequivocally harmful. It is going to limit access. It is gonna make water more expensive. It's unjustifiable. But listening to the harsh realities of the water sector or water infrastructure is extremely underfunded in the United States.

And one way to overcome it, like very pragmatically and feasibly, is by privatizing elements of it. And I think that was a hard pill to swallow because it's acknowledging that what I've been told in class might be wrong. but it's also accepting there is no either or, and the public sector isn't inherently pitted against the private sector, rather for water problems to be kind of find a resolution. This collaboration is so critical.

Indeed, we shall maybe stop opposing public and private money, something Gaetane Suzenet already shared on that microphone, and rather focus on what each of both has to offer. That is what Henry will strive to do today, so I'll leave him the floor.

But right before I'll do that, remember that if you like what you hear, please take this episode and share it with a colleague, a friend, or your LinkedIn network! That's the best way to support me, and I'd be grateful if you took a minute of your time to do it. Can I count on you? I'm sure I can, let's meet on the other side!

Can Private Capital Change the World of Water for the Better? 

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