Improving Self-Supply of Urban Water and Sanitation Projects through Microfinancing in Nigeria

Abstract

Most water and sanitation projects in poor neighbourhood of urban Nigeria are executed through self-supply option. This is defined as an incremental improvement of WASH products e.g. water and sanitation structures by a household or small group of households which are financed by their own effort and investment. It is indeed a concept which complements conventional water supply and sanitation funded by government. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to investigate the extent of the use of innovative financing especially group saving approach to improve water and sanitation projects in Awka town, Nigeria. Towards achieving the aim, data were collected through questionnaires which were designed and administered on the respondents between January and April, 2016 and from other secondary sources. Data were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and Component scores to establish the extent of the use of this option in the 9 component quarters of the town. Result shows that some quarters have perfected using the self-supply option while in others, it is yet to be widely accepted. It is finally recommended among others that the urban water policy as well as urban water safety plan should be revised to include the option as a way of improving domestic water supply and sanitation in the town.

Self-supply groundwater in five communities: Moshie Zongo, Aboabo, Kotei, Ayeduase and Apemso in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

“…In addition, our findings supports the observation by Ref. [ 48 ], that the provision of self-supply water can be attributed to inadequate water supply by state agencies. This finding, however, contrasts with the findings of [ 24 ] in Oforikrom, where only 9 % of households obtained additional drinking water from protected hand-dug wells (1 %) and boreholes (8 %).…”

Financial inclusion and improved water usage among households in Ghana

“…Our study demonstrates the role of financial inclusion (especially formal financial inclusion) in enhancing the use of improved water among households in Ghana. Similar finding has been revealed among a sample of African countries [30] and in Nigeria [28]. This finding is not farfetched because, financial inclusion has been shown to reduce poverty and provide income [10][11][12] which would enhance the ability of households to afford improved water sources.…”

“…Similarly, financial inclusion has been found to be positively associated with access to basic drinking water among a sample of African countries [30]. In a related study in Nigeria, informal financial inclusion was found to improve access to water among households [28], while Barenberg [27] found financial inclusion to increase investment in the water sector in India. However, none of the above-mentioned studies that took account of financial inclusion was solely devoted to Ghana albeit the challenges with access and use of improved water in the country, and the possible role financial inclusion could play in addressing these challenges.…”

“…Nonetheless, while some empirical studies have been carried out regarding the drivers of access or use of improved water sources in other settings [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] and Ghana [2,[24][25][26], only a handful of studies have tackled the relationship between financial inclusion and access or use of improved water sources [27][28][29][30]. Specifically, Pories [29] conducted a study in India and found that financial inclusion that improved access to water at home, led at least one member of a household to direct the time that was previously lost on fetching water towards an economic activity.…”

Alternative Sanitation and Strategic Directives for the Well Water Security in Cotonou (Benin) and Lomé (Togo)

“…According to Ramakrishnaiah [78], the chances for success of the policies to be adopted depend on public support for and understanding and compatibility of the policies with overall economic efficiency, environmental quality and equity objectives. Related to funding of WASH, Ezenwaji et al [90] estimated that microfinance institutions should be meant to charge low interest rates on loans allocated to households for water supply and sanitation and that the urban water policy includes this innovative funding practice. In Cotonou and Lomé, this financial strategy leading to the self-supply of water can help as shown by Ezenwaji et al [91] in Onitsha (Nigeria) to improve the condition of domestic wells and its water quality and to expand the capacity of water supply yielding the better access, reliability and cost effectiveness.…”