Small-scale entrepreneurs in the urban water and sanitation market

Abstract

This paper describes the importance of small-scale private sector or NGO providers of water and sanitation in a great range of urban areas in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It in- cludes many examples of where - contrary to conventional wis- dom - they provide good quality, low-cost services. Without these operations, large sections of the South’s urban populations, in- cluding tens of millions of low-income households, would be worse off. Yet these generally operate with no subsidy and have to re- cover their costs. This paper discusses how public policy can support (or at least not seriously constrain) small-scale entrepre- neurs in water and sanitation provision while ensuring checks on the quality and price of the services they provide.