Action Checklist: Key Issues and Challenges

This section explores problems and issues identified by sector practitioners through a series of case studies, workshops and seminars in sub-Saharan Africa.

Clicking on the specific issue, the practitioner accesses a description of the problem, ‘The Facts’ which explain in more detail the reality, and “What should the practitioner do about it’ which offer suggestions and links to aid the practitioner in addressing the challenge. Supplementary information is accessed by clicking on the blue box corresponding to the tabs.

Jo’burg, South Africa

For BASIC INFORMATION on situation, click on title names below.	For SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, click on blue balls under tab titles.
Key Issues and Challenges	Customers & Providers	Policies & Legal Aspects	Funding & Cost Recovery	Levels of Service
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES Do low-income communities form a large part of the customer base and the majority of the unserved population? Will the bulk of future utility customers be low-income households?
NATIONAL POLICY ON SERVICES Does national policy recognise the right of all people, including the urban poor, to access to a basic level of water and sanitation services? Are appropriate policies backed by supporting legislation and appropriate commitment?
LOW-INCOME AS CUSTOMERS Does the utility have a policy and strategy that treats all households, whether in planned or unplanned and/or informal settlements as legitimate customers? Are low-income households in unplanned and/or informal settlements traditionally accepted as “legitimate customers” by utilities?
APPROPRIATE STANDARDS Are the service and technical standards – often designed for formal/planned settlements - appropriate for informal settlements?
ALTERNATIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS Does the utility recognize the proliferation of alternative service provider despite the extent of the services they offer?
LOW-INCOME VOICE Do the low-income have a ‘voice:’ do they have the right to a vote but not to a service?
UNPLANNED SETTLEMENTS Is the unplanned nature of low-incomesettlements physically difficult to provide services and at a higher cost?
TARIFFS Do the tariff structures disadvantage the poor,as well as the unconnected, second or third-hand customer?
REGULATORY STRUCTURES Are the regulatory structures and capacity to administer weak? Are the regulations inappropriate and outdated?
INTEGRATION OF SERVICES Are water, sewerage, sanitation and hygiene services adequately integrated?
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION Is the private sector involved and what are the implications for the poor?