Factors Influencing Organisation Efficiency of Water Supply and Sanitation Authorities in Tanzania: The Analysis of Mbeya Urban Water Supply Authority

Kelvin Luka Nzilano

doi:10.20897/awet/75634

Abstract

While Tanzania is endowed with enormous natural water resources, access to clean and safe water remains a great challenge. For instance, out of twenty urban water supply authorities, only three (Arusha, Songea and Tanga) supply water continuously. This paper examines factors influencing organisation efficiency of water supply utilities in Tanzania, using Mbeya Urban Water Supply Authority (UWSA) as case in point. The unit of analysis of this study were all employees of the Mbeya UWSA. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and documentary analysis. Descriptive analysis and one-sample t-test were employed as data analysis methods. The findings show that human resource competences in waste water management, civil engineering, distribution of water resources, other industrial services and agricultural water management contributes to a small extent to organisation efficiency of the utility. Shortage of funds, lack of priorities in government budget and low rate of return on investment contributes less to organisation efficiency of the utility. The use of information and communication technology moderately contributes to organisation efficiency while availability of working facilities, engagement in survey and innovation in water management contributes to a small extent to organisation efficiency of the utility. The study recommends Mbeya UWSA to take deliberate efforts to improve the attributes of human resource competences, financial resources and physical resources that have bearing effect on the organization efficiency of the utility in delivering services to customers.

Highlights

The need for improved access to quality water supply and sanitation services is emerging as key objective in poverty alleviation (Van den Berg et al, 2009)
The study sought to establish the influence of human resource competences on organisation efficiency of Mbeya Urban Water Supply Authority (UWSA)
The results from this study have shown that human resource competences in waste management, civil engineering, water pipes and other industrial services and agricultural water management contributes to a small extent to organisation efficiency of the utility

Summary

Introduction

The need for improved access to quality water supply and sanitation services is emerging as key objective in poverty alleviation (Van den Berg et al, 2009). Access to improved water supply and sanitation services became more prominent before it was declared in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000. Access to reliable, clean and safe water has remained a global challenge among public water supply utilities especially in developing countries. It is globally estimated that more than 884 million people have no access to improved water, virtually all of them come from developing countries and 84% of them live in rural area (WHO, 2010). Access to safe and clean water is essentially a universal human right since human existence depends on the availability of water. The responsibility of water supply is left to the government and is mostly carried

Methods

Results

Conclusion