scholarly journals Rural Water Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola de Cecco
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Water Development ◽  
Rural Water Development ◽  
Rural Water ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Why prepaid technologies are not a panacea for inclusive and sustainable rural water services in Tanzania?

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 925-942
Author(s):  
Hans C. Komakech ◽  
Lukas Kwezi ◽  
Mansoor Ali
Keyword(s):  
Cost Recovery ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Revenue Collection ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Rural Water ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
One Year

Abstract Poor sustainability of rural water schemes is a major problem in service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. About half of the schemes fail one year after commissioning, mostly due to poor operation and maintenance. Many communities fail to collect and manage water revenue. Prepaid technologies are argued to remedy the poor water revenue management. However, it is not clear to what extent prepaid systems can contribute to the sustainability of rural water schemes. This paper assessed the performance of three different cases where prepaid technologies were used in Tanzania. Although the technologies used can simplify water revenue collection, they are not a panacea to deliver sustainable and equitable water services. The capital cost of the prepaid system is often paid for by donors, which is not being recovered, hence the notion of cost recovery is biased here. Also, a strong institutional capacity and knowledge is required alongside the technology. Therefore, the technology which is being promoted as better for improving cost recovery is, instead, causing a burden on water users.

A regional approach to optimizing the location of rural handpumps

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar S. Hopkins
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Rural Water ◽  
Time Savings ◽  
Sub Saharan

Many rural water supply projects in sub-Saharan Africa are based on the installation of public handpumps. One of the key benefits of these projects is distance and time savings. Surprisingly, references to rural water planning rarely provide systematic approaches to optimizing distance-related benefits. This paper develops a conceptual model to identify the number and location of point sources that maximizes benefits to consumers, thereby serving as an aid to decision makers in identifying good alternatives. The proposed model is based on willingness to pay, a location model to identify optimal locations of sources, and a cost–benefit analysis. The model shows that as the number of sources increases, the distance between households and sources decreases but the user fee must increase to generate the revenue required to maintain them. Higher fees will dissuade households from using the point sources and hence reduce the aggregate distance savings that accrue. This suggests that there is an optimal number and location of point sources.

scholarly journals Community management does not equate to participation: fostering community participation in rural water supplies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine F. Shields ◽  
Michelle Moffa ◽  
Nikki L. Behnke ◽  
Emma Kelly ◽  
Tori Klug ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Collaborative Planning ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Community Management ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Rural Water ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Community management has remained the dominant paradigm for managing rural water supplies in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a widespread perception that community participation principles are inherently embedded in the community management model. In this paper, we analyze how an international nongovernmental organization engages rural communities in their rural water projects, and the ways in which community members are able to participate in the management and governance of their water supplies. Qualitative data were collected in 18 study communities – six each in Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia – through interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory mapping with community and water committee members. We argue that community management does not inherently lead to broader community participation, but rather that fostering community participation requires intentionality. We recommend implementers use collaborative planning processes and explicitly engage with intra-community diversity and inequalities in order to facilitate the opportunity for all community members to meaningfully participate in decision-making. Collaborative planning with diverse groups will also allow community members to realize their rights to transparency and accountability once community management structures are in place.

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