Summary of Key Findings

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate how different community-based management models, in terms of their demand responsiveness and level of delegation, impact on the sustainability of piped water supply systems. It addressed this issue in 26 communities of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali representing a variety of piped water supply technologies and different types of management models in West Africa. Backstopping and technical assistance properly administered to foster competence seem to constitute the basics for achieving a sustainable management. By competence, one must understand competence in financial, technical, and administrative management. But backstopping and technical assistance can only be applied to a well defined and well identified management body in the community, invested with adequate authority and responsibility. A competent management body should also be interested in community participation and accountability to the community. A good correlation hasn't been established between Regional Bureau for Africa (DRA) and a sustainable management by this study. The reason is because the systems studied weren't implemented using DRA. The overall judgment of the study is that DRA by creating awareness in the community will have helped in implementing a management based on the community. This study has also identified the need for a better design of training and the definition of a clear national policy for maintenance.