This briefing note provides a rapid scanof partnership initiatives by the World Bank, the AfricanDevelopment Bank (AfDB) and the Water and Sanitation Program(WSP) to improve the state of water and sanitation servicesin Africa. The note aims to highlight the gains andchallenges of the major collaborative initiatives, focusingon where progress has been made or activities are ongoing ata strategic, thematic, and regional or country level. Thecollaboration is now focusing on: a) intensifyingoperational cooperation and joint work in additional Africancountries, including fragile and post-conflict countries; b)continuing to share information and to participate incapacity-building activities, with an emphasis on trainingin operational contexts; c) intensifying joint work in watersupply, and particularly sanitation and hygiene; and, d)developing a monitoring system focused on results ratherthan inputs.