Pro-Poor Subsidies for Water Connections in West Africa: A Preliminary Study (Water Supply & Sanitation Working Notes, no.3, January 2005)

The Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership project aims at assessing the subsidy schemes in Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire for providing piped water to the poor. This study was commissioned to make a preliminary evaluation of the schemes in Dakar (in Senegal) and Abidjan (in Cote d’Ivoire). The fieldwork (April 22 through May 5, 2002) was made to explore whether those social connection programs might merit further study for application in other developing countries.

The objectives was to examine how well the schemes in West Africa for making social and ordinary connections are working. A social connection, aimed at the poor, is free, whereas an ordinary connection, aimed at wealthier households, must be paid for.

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

1. Introduction
1.1 Objectives and Approach

2. Criteria for Social Connections

3. Pro-Poor Subsidies
3.1 Classification of Goods and Services
3.2 Worthy Goods
3.3 House Connections: Unlike Most Worthy Goods

4. Urban Water Supply in Dakar
4.1 Water Policy
4.2 Senegalese Institutions for Making Social Connections
4.3 How Social Connections Are Made in Senegal
4.4 How It Works in Cote d’Ivoire

5. Performance of The Social Connection Programs
5.1 Cote d’Ivoire
5.2 Senegal

6. Evaluation of The Social Connection Programs
6.1 Is There a Need for Social Connections
6.2 Are Social Connection Programs Serving the Poor
6.3 Are Administrative Costs of Social Connection Programs Low
6.4 Do Social Connection Programs Produce Perserve Incentives

7. Discussion and Recommendations
7.1 Serving the Poorest
7.2 Serving the Relatively Poor
7.3 Making Connections
7.4 Three Recommendations

Annexes
A. Considerations for Follow-Up Work
B. Key Persons Met
 

Post Date : 30 Juni 2009