- This paper examines the limitations of private-sector-oriented solutions to water supply in informal settlements and argues that market-oriented solutions are inappropriate for sub-Saharan African countries where over two-thirds of the urban population live in squatter settlements with multidimensional challenges. There are particular concerns over the pricing, regulation, and the quality and sustainability of services provided by small-scale water providers.
- Water networks involve large-scale sunk investment costs. Financing these costs is difficult in many developing countries where welfare and social security systems are absent, and affordability of water prices is a problem. This challenges the viability of private operation of water and sanitation networks.
- Poor water coverage in low income countries can be resolved through public investment in the expansion of the public water network. Many of the potential solutions to problems relating to access to water and sanitation in slum areas ‘require multifaceted interventions that lie within the authority of governments. Urban planning requires a strong public administrative system with good coordination between various ministries’ (p.501).
- Developing countries need to commit resources to extensive urban planning and investment in land, housing and infrastructure. This implies the need for ‘more donor funding, more long-term finance from multilateral donors and better public-spending decisions that reflect social priorities, including investment in water and sanitation. Greater public investment…should be accompanied by democratic and institutional reforms’ (p.502).
Governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian knowledge services
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