The future of rural water services in the developing countries and the governments' role

✍ Scribed by Harald D. Frederiksen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 74 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1531-0353
• DOI: 10.1002/ird.203

✦ Synopsis

The developing countries are facing escalating demands on their limited budgets. Large investments are needed for economic development, transportation, water, housing, education and social programs. The dominant demands are generated by the urban centers where essentially all additional growth is occurring. In the water sector, the capacity of urban services must be immediately expanded far beyond the existing. Given the widening priority demands on the budget the governments must shed funding responsibility for the rural services-even those services in poor condition. Rural customers will have to assume the responsibility in full or lose their services. Forms of service entities and means of financing that have proven to be self-sustaining will have to be introduced. There is ample information on what has and is succeeding under similar conditions in the developing and developed countries. Simultaneously, the governments will have to provide the regulatory and supporting programs to underpin both rural and urban services. Governments and international agencies involved in these matters will have to change their focus from studies, conferences and debates to implementing practical actions. The task at hand and the limited time available offer no options.