The traditional model of water governance through state or public water utilities, and the market based privatisation of water supplies that gained momentum in the early twentieth century, have failed to effectively address growing urban water demand.
And so other institutional and management systems have emerged in some urban and peri-urban areas.
Community based water supply models have been common in rural areas for some time.
Community public partnerships typically involve a community – or an elected body within that community – working with a public or state owned water utility.
Technical and financial management have improved.
Questions have been raised about the extent to which improvements in management, accountability, and the number of water points has led to better water access at the household level.
But they are gradually emerging in some of sub-Saharan Africa’s urban spaces.
These arrangements, also known as community-based self-provision, allow communities to form their own institutions for water delivery without formal connections or partnerships with utility operators or municipal governments.
Successful communities were able to get both local and international donors on board to provide them financial support.
But communities cannot do it all alone.