Tapping the Market: The Challenge of Institutional Reform in the Urban Water Sector (The Role of Government in Adjusting Econ)

This book examines the challenge of reform of the urban water supply sector in developing countries, based on case studies of state-owned water companies in Ghana, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The growing public private partnership for urban water supply is analyzed, focussing on the concession contract model. The implications for meeting the water needs of the urban poor, for the regulatory role of the state and for state capacity building are also discussed. Based On Multi-country Research, The Authors Consider Whether Governments Can Undertake A Role Of Economic Regulation In The Sector, While Simultaneously Acting As A Partner To The Private Sector In The Provision Of Water Supply, And How Governments Can Develop The Necessary Capacity To Ensure Service To All.--jacket. Reform Of The Urban Water Sector And The Role Of Government -- Rethinking Urban Water Supply -- Urban Water Sector Reform -- The New Public Management -- Concepts Of Capacity -- The Structure And Performance Of Urban Water Utilities -- Organisational Arrangements For Service Provision -- Performance Management -- Review Of Organisational Performance -- Consumer Perceptions Of Service Quality -- Explanations Of Performance And Reform Responses -- Organisational Capacity -- Institutional Capacity -- Reform Policies And Plans -- Reform Processes -- The Spectrum Of Public Private Partnerships -- Factors Internal To The Provider -- The Pressure From External Stakeholders -- The Argument For Private Sector Participation In Urban Water Supply -- Vertical Unbundling -- The Range Of Institutional Arrangements -- The Challenge Of The Concession Model -- Drivers For Performance -- Risk Transfer -- Buenos Aires: The Concession Model In Operation -- Choosing Public Private Partnerships -- Addressing The Water Needs Of The Urban Poor -- Serving The Urban Poor -- Private Water Vendors And The Urban Poor -- Non-government Organisations And The Urban Poor -- Government Providers And The Urban Poor -- Public Private Partnerships And The Urban Poor -- Regulating And Enabling The Direct Providers -- The Activities Of Regulation -- Models Of Regulation -- Regulation In The Case Study Countries -- The Regulatory Experience Of Low And Middle-income Countries -- Taking Account Of Capacity -- Developing The Capacity To Change. Andrew Nickson And Richard Franceys. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 192-201) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Tables......Page 9 List of Figures......Page 10 List of Boxes......Page 11 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 1 Reform of the Urban Water Sector and the Role of Government......Page 16 2 The Structure and Performance of Urban Water Utilities......Page 32 3 Explanations of Performance and Reform Responses......Page 48 4 The Spectrum of Public Private Partnerships......Page 65 5 The Challenge of the Concession Model......Page 88 6 Addressing the Water Needs of the Urban Poor......Page 118 7 Regulating and Enabling the Direct Providers......Page 142 8 Taking Account of Capacity......Page 168 9 Reforming Urban Water Sector Reform......Page 196 References......Page 207 Index......Page 217 The growing role of the private sector and its participation in the provision of water and sanitation services in Ghana, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe is the subject of this study by Andrew Nickson and Richard Franceys One of the most glaring failures in government attempts at service provision around the world is the shortage of water faced every day by the urban poor.