1. Recovery towards what? Finance, justice, sustainability Public Provision of Water in Africa
6th November 2009
Kate Bayliss –
School of Oriental and African Studies

2. Structure of the presentation
Background
The public sector under attack
The public sector as the solution?
Lessons and way forward

3. Regional coverage rates: Drinking water (% population)
1990
2006
SSA 49 58
Developing Regions 71 84
Developed Regions 98 99
World 77 87
Source: Joint Monitoring Programme 2008

4. The MDG target for water in SSA will not be reached
Regional and global progress towards the drinking water MDG
Source: Joint Monitoring Programme 2008

5. Population without access to safe drinking water%
1990
2006
Urban
26,175
53,914 18 19
Rural
243,050
272,407 65 54
Total
264,862
331,050 51 42
Some facts:
Just under half the population still does not have access to safe water
Lower access in rural areas but
Situation deteriorating in urban areas.
In some areas up to 80 percent rely on informal providers.
Source: Joint Monitoring Programme 2008

6. Background – the public sector under attack
Public provision was the norm 60s and 70s.
Donors shifted approach to privatisation in 1990s (conditionality) due to poor performance.
Widespread privatisation has failed to be achieved in the water sector –
Only a handful have survived (Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mozambique, Gabon, Niger)
High incidence of failure (Tanzania, Chad, Guinea, Cape Verde, Mali, CAR).
Some countries failed to achieve privatisation.
“Over the period 1973 to 1998 the IDA invested US$152.4m to improve Ghana’s urban water supply infrastructure. The results over 25 years of public sector management have been disappointing and the urban water sector remains in a poor condition with the trend in service and sustainability currently worsening. Thus the continuing with a public sector only regime for a new project was not recommended by IDA nor was it chosen by the Government of Ghana” World Bank Project Appraisal Document 2004

7. Legacy from privatisation focus
Commercialised policy framework
Lack of investment
Alternative means to accommodate the private sector – with less risk transfer and greater emphasis on domestic private sector

8. The public sector as a solution?
The public sector has to be the solution
There is no alternative
But what sort of public sector?
Two key cases

9. Uganda: National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC)
Established in Delivers water and sanitation to 23 cities and towns in Uganda.
Weak performance in late 1990s
New management appointed 1998
Also had two short term management contracts
Planned privatisation was cancelled because of turnaround in NWSC performance.

10. NWSC Performance 1998 2008 Service Coverage 48% 72%
Daily water production
120,457
166,173
Staff per 1,000 connections 36 7
Total connections
50,826
200,000
Unaccounted for Water
51%
32.5%
Collection Efficiency
60%
94.7%
Achieved with performance contracts
Source: Muhairwe 2008

11. Ugandan model to be rolled out
In 2008 NWSC won contracts to provide services to utilities in Rwanda (Electrogaz), Zanzibar water authority (ZAWA), DAWASA/DAWASCO (Tanzania) and Kakamega Water Board (Kenya).
NWSC also carries out in-house training for water service workers from the rest of the region.

12. Burkina Faso Office Nationale de l’eau et Assainissement (ONEA)
Provides water and sanitation to 42 towns and cities in Burkina Faso.
Introduced performance contracts in 1993.
Became a state company in 1994.
Had a short term management contract ( ). but was arguably already well-run before this.

13. ONEA Performance 2001 2007 Access to piped water 71% 76%
Number of customers
75,150
145,650
Staff per 1,000 connections 8 5
Unaccounted for water
5.5%
4.8%
Bill collection ratio
85%
95%
Source: Fall 2009

14. But there are issues…
Heavily commercialised with emphasis on cost recovery and efficiency rather than equity.
Pricing structure.
No reason to extend access to poor communities.
No funds to finance investment.
Blurring of public and private – its about the details.

15. Way forward
New initiatives emerging such as Water Operators Partnership.
Public sector has to be solution.
Public sector is capable as case studies show.
But what kind of public sector?
Need to incorporate core values of equity, solidarity and democratic accountability.

16. Thank you!