The role of private enterprise in transforming the water, sanitation and hygiene sector in rural sub-Saharan Africa

Smith, Wesley (2013) The role of private enterprise in transforming the water, sanitation and hygiene sector in rural sub-Saharan Africa. [USQ Project]

[img]
Preview
Text
Smith_2013.pdf

Download (56MB) | Preview

Abstract

This project is a comprehensive desktop study which aims to critically analyse the role, effectiveness and potential of private enterprise in improving sustainable water and sanitation services in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

Access to safe and clean drinking-water and sanitation is a fundamental human right, yet there are currently 780 million people worldwide who lack fresh drinking-water sources and 2.5 billion people who live without adequate sanitation facilities. Three quarters of these people live in rural areas and most of the countries that have less than
half the population using improved drinking-water sources and sanitation facilities are located in sub-Saharan Africa.

Private enterprise plays a signicant role in meeting the water, sanitation and hygiene needs of rural sub-Saharan Africa. The private sector is predominantly made up of small, local entrepreneurs who generally receive no government financing and survive solely by providing services which people need and are willing to pay for. Despite the huge challenges these small scale service providers face, they are commercially viable, sustainable and effective in delivering services to rural populations.

Traditionally, small and informal private enterprises were thought of a as a temporary,short-term solution but recently there has been increasing interest from governments, NGOs and donors regarding the provision of improved water and sanitation services by the private sector. There is now growing recognition of the potential of private enterprise especially in delivering services to low-income and rural areas.


Statistics for USQ ePrint 24677
Statistics for this ePrint Item
Item Type: USQ Project
Item Status: Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021)
Supervisors: Thorpe, David
Date Deposited: 24 Jun 2014 06:11
Last Modified: 24 Jun 2014 06:11
Uncontrolled Keywords: private enterprise; water; sanitation; hygiene sector; rural sub-saharan africa
Fields of Research (2008): 09 Engineering > 0905 Civil Engineering > 090509 Water Resources Engineering
Fields of Research (2020): 40 ENGINEERING > 4005 Civil engineering > 400513 Water resources engineering
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/24677

Actions (login required)

View Item Archive Repository Staff Only