DETERMINANTS OF USERS´ INTENTION TO PAY FOR IMPROVED WATER SERVICES IN RURAL DR CONGO

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Water policy makers across Sub-Saharan Africa have emphasized the need to improve understanding of users´ intention to pay for safe water services in order to achieve financial sustainability. Community demand for payable water provision will be critical for the implementation of an effective revenue collection system that ensures the long-term financing of the schemes. This investigation examines community´s intention to pay in seven water schemes in rural DRC. A cross-sectional survey to 1253 households has been implemented to assess user´s perceptions and a logistic regression model has been employed to analyse the association between nine hypothesized drivers. The analysis reveal that the main factors affecting stated intention to pay are the reliability of the supply, the sense of ownership and the trust among peer resource users. No evidence was found on the potential relationship with the time employed to access the improved source and with the participation in management meetings. These findings are relevant for water authorities, NGOs and development agents designing water policies that endorse sustainable service provision. Keywords: Intention to Pay / Financial Sustainability / Rural Water Schemes / Revenue Collection