Multi-level sanitation governance: understanding and overcoming challenges in the sanitation sector in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The SEI working paper series aims to expand and accelerate the availability of our research, stimulate discussion, and elicit feedback. SEI working papers are work in progress and typically contain preliminary research, analysis, findings, and recommendations. Many SEI working papers are drafts that will be subsequently revised for a refereed journal or book. Other papers share timely and innovative knowledge that we consider valuable and policy-relevant, but which may not be intended for later publication.

Airway smooth muscle tone increases airway responsiveness in healthy young adults

“…This promoted systematic interrogation of each formal link between organisations and relevant informal institutions, as well as a focus on the node itself and its internal drivers. Secondly, literature on entrepreneurship (Clark and Wilson 1961;Wilson 1989;Ernst 2012) and on critical aspects of enterprise development in WASH (Gero et al 2013;Fuertes et al 2008;Mulumba et al 2014;Willima et al 2014;Ekane et al 2014) informed the narrative of the paper.…”

“…Drawing on literature on entrepreneurship (Clark and Wilson 1961;Wilson 1989;Ernst 2012), a systematic review of private enterprise engagement in the sanitation sector (Gero et al 2013), and additional literature on sanitation marketing and entrepreneurship (Fuertes et al 2008;Mulumba et al 2014;Willima et al 2014;Ekane et al 2014), a number of factors that shape enterprise engagement in sanitation services were explored and identified. These factors were: (i) those that concern the characteristics of the entrepreneur themselves (including business and technical skills, entrepreneurial traits, pro-social traits and underlying motivations), and (ii) those that relate to the enabling environment in which they operate (demand creation and access to customers, access to capacity building opportunities, access to finance, financing options for customers, competition and innovation, and government support).…”

“…Sector fragmentation at both the national and local levels, and limited inter-sector coordination, are also barriers to government support to sanitation enterprises. Ekane et al (2014) note the importance of coordination and coherence across macro-, meso-, and micro-level government institutions. Institutions that are based on different principles are likely to follow different governance styles and therefore view, approach and support the sanitation sector and sanitation businesses in different ways.…”

“…Institutions that are based on different principles are likely to follow different governance styles and therefore view, approach and support the sanitation sector and sanitation businesses in different ways. Strategies to address this challenge include adopting a sector-wide approach with the development of sector working groups and memorandums of understanding between actors (Ekane et al 2014). Plan's successful efforts to facilitate local government implementation of the national STBM strategy in Manggarai Timur district mentioned earlier, highlight the role that CSOs can play in improving coordination between relevant government agencies and in increasing the attention given to sanitation by government agencies beyond the WASH sector.…”

Sanitation markets in urban informal settlements of East Africa

“…About 12% of the residents in Kampala live below the poverty line (Ekane, Nykvist, Kjell en, Noel, & Weitz, 2014). Kisumu is ranked as the poorest city in Kenya, with 48% of the residents living below the poverty line (Republic of Kenya, 2011).…”