Patience and action pays: a comparative analysis of WSS reforms in three East African cities

Abstract

There have been significant efforts in the last 15 years to improve performance in water supply and sewerage services (WSS) operations of most cities in Africa. This has called for a number of reforms. WSS utilities in the three East African capital cities have been among the list that has undertaken such reform. Consequently, a number of legislative, institutional and managerial reforms, all aimed at creating good enabling environments to drive performance, have been undertaken. This paper outlines some of these reforms in WSS operations of the three capital cities of Kampala, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. We present, amongst other things, the key reform drivers, reforms undertaken, achievements and underlying success factors. We conclude that there is need to synergise the use of incentives, strong leadership, managerial autonomy and accountability as important buttresses for successful reforms. In doing all this, political support and, indeed, support from other stakeholders is important. We also note that reforms need time, adequate stakeholder mapping and incorporation of significant local capacity development to be fully effective.

Key issues and trends in the water policy literature

“…Four papers dealt with rural WSS issues (Anim, Nyame et al 2010;Biswas and Mandal 2010;Noel, Hoang Thi et al 2010;Padawangi 2010), and three focused on urban WSS issues (Berg and Mugisha 2010;Kone 2010;Mugisha and Brown 2010). Three papers looked more broadly at a societal level (Kallidaikurichi and Rao 2010;Reddy 2010;Whitford, Smith et al 2010).…”

Accountability as an element of governmentality: an investigation of national and local executive accountability practices in the water section in Tanzania

“…al., 2012;Jimenez and Perez-Foguet, 2011;Kaliba, 2002;Kassenga, 2007;Kjellen, 2000;Kjellen, 2006;Kroliwoski, 2014;Kyessi, 2005;Marobhe, 2008;Mugisha and Brown, 2010;Nganyanyuka et. al., 2014;Pigeon, 2012;Smiley, 2013;Stalgren, 2006) and in the grey literature on water (Daily News, 2010;EWURA, 2012;JMP, 2012;The Guardian, 2005;Twaweza, 2008;Water Aid, 2008; WHO/UNICEF, 2010; WHO/UNICEF,2012; WHO/UNICEF, 2013).…”