Management of rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Rural water supplies in sub-Saharan Africa generally rely on community management and have low levels of service sustainability. This paper reports on a review of rural water supplies throughout the sub-continent including results of field research in Uganda. It reveals that private sector approaches to service delivery have been implemented in a small number of cases but have demonstrated considerable potential for enhanced levels of sustainability. It concludes that the rural African private sector can only develop if decision-makers are prepared to accept the limitations of community management and the need to explore more sustainable alternatives.