This is a preliminary assessment of WAWI based on a substantial desk review of partnership documents, individual and small group interviews with many of the partners as well as an earlier facilitation of a WAWI partnership meeting in Seattle in April 2007. It is important to stress that this assessment is preliminary and does not include information that would certainly be gained with travel to project sites and secretariat premises in West Africa, which would likely highlight many positive elements of WAWI partners in action. Nonetheless, I am confident that this preliminary assessment provides enough material for the Foundation to begin serious deliberations about how it might increase impact from its investment in water, sanitation and hygiene projects in West Africa and to determine some immediate steps for WAWI Phase 2 planning.