Performance-based Funding for Reliable Rural Water Services in Africa

Description

Performance-based Funding for Reliable Rural Water Services in Africa

A graveyard of failed water supply infrastructure across Africa points to the legacy of well-meaning but poorly-executed investments. The enduring problem is that providing maintenance services to rural and remote populations is not financially viable in many contexts. Without credible data on observed delivery costs, government, donors, private finance or other investors cannot allocate current
funding efficiently.
Despite financial risks and operational challenges, multiple service providers are innovating on service delivery approaches to improve financial and operational performance in “last mile” contexts. We report on major improvements in functionality of rural water infrastructure in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda achieved by performance-based providers where rural water users pay a share of the costs. This study provides preliminary evidence to support the case for a long-term, multicountry funding facility for SDG 6.1 delivery that “leaves no one behind”.