This experiment examined the two main service delivery models for community managed water services in Uganda, established baseline service levels, examined success, failure and promising innovations.
Published on: 10/03/2015
Uganda's rural water sector has two service delivery models that use a community-based management paradigm: Water User Committees for point sources, and Water Supply and Sanitation Boards for piped schemes. Neither has achieved sustainable service at scale: performance of water service delivery has stagnated over the past five years, with access remaining at 60–65% and functionality at 80–83%, because of gaps between policy and practice, weak support mechanisms and weak community ownership. Two innovations have emerged in some districts: hand pump mechanics associations, and new financing mechanisms that integrate community-led savings and credit initiatives for operations and maintenance ("YY strategy").
The experiment has led to an improved understanding of the two rural service delivery models, their performance and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. A set of indicators was used to develop a framework for monitoring rural water service delivery. Application of the service delivery indicators reveals that rural water systems often provide a service below the sector norms and standards. A Policy Brief summarises recommendations for strengthening the Water Source Committee model and another provides recommendations for Supporting Hand Pump Mechanics to improve operation and maintenance.
The study triggered two new experiments:
Who was involved?
IRC Uganda worked with
Find out more
A selection of publications is available on this website (scroll down for more)
Briefing Notes- Performance of Rural Water Service Providers and Service Authorities in eight districts in Uganda (2014) and Level of service received by water users in eight districts in Uganda (2014)
Research Study Report- Assessment of performance of the service delivery of point sources , V. Bey, J. Abisa, P. Magara (2014)
For more information contact IRC Uganda country Director, Jane Nabunnya Mulumba