Publication:
The Limits and Possibilities of Prepaid Water in Urban Africa: Lessons from the Field

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dc.contributor.authorHeymans, Christiaan
dc.contributor.authorEales, Kathy
dc.contributor.authorFranceys, Richard
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-17T16:20:41Z
dc.date.available2017-02-17T16:20:41Z
dc.date.issued2014-08
dc.description.abstractThis study explores the potential of prepaid meters for serving urban poor communities. It provides urban utilities, oversight agencies, and other stakeholders in Africa with a basis for decision-making on the suitability, introduction, and management of such meters. The need for the assessment emerged from prepaid meters increasingly being utilized by water and sanitation utilities in developing countries, including World Bank clients. The technologies adopted have expanded over this period, but there has been a lack of consolidated data and analysis that capture the service delivery, operational efficiency, and access to services aspects of such systems across utilities and regions systematically. The review initially aimed to research experiences in six African countries from the perspective of their communities, as well as from water sector bodies, governments, and other investors. The number of case studies was increased to eight with the addition of Windhoek in Namibia and Nakuru in Kenya, as it became apparent that they may offer additional lessons. Windhoek, for example, is one of the prepaid water pioneers in Africa. The study specifically canvased the perspectives of customers, including market research and opinion surveys on people s experience and views of prepaid water in practice. Women and children were well represented in many of these groups. The analysis aimed to be robustly investigative, deliberately not advocating for prepaid systems in principle, or making firm recommendations, but rather offering balanced analysis and assessment, and considerations to inform policymakers and sector leaders, as well as other stakeholders who may face decisions or challenges on such systems. One of the key conceptual bases that the analysis identified was the need to differentiate between prepaid applications of prepaid system for standpipes, individual connections, and institutional and commercial customers each of which have different implications for their users, as well as for cost effectiveness. Utilities must be able to justify the investment in a prepayment system and its opportunity costs specific to the application they choose, and relative to alternative means of improving services.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/499021468010486033/The-limits-and-possibilities-of-prepaid-water-in-Urban-Africa-lessons-from-the-field
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/26081
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/26081
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo
dc.subjectACCESS TO SERVICES
dc.subjectACCESS TO WATER
dc.subjectACCOUNTABILITY TO CUSTOMERS
dc.subjectADEQUATE WATER
dc.subjectAFFLUENT
dc.subjectAFFORDABLE WATER
dc.subjectALTERNATIVE WATER
dc.subjectBLOCK TARIFF
dc.subjectBLOCK TARIFFS
dc.subjectBOREHOLES
dc.subjectBULK METERS
dc.subjectCASH FLOW
dc.subjectCASH FLOWS
dc.subjectCERTIFICATION
dc.subjectCHEAP WATER
dc.subjectCHEAPER WATER
dc.subjectCITY COUNCIL
dc.subjectCIVIL SOCIETY
dc.subjectCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
dc.subjectCONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
dc.subjectCOST OF WATER
dc.subjectCOST RECOVERY
dc.subjectCROSS-SUBSIDIES
dc.subjectCROSS-SUBSIDIZATION
dc.subjectCUSTOMER RELATIONS
dc.subjectDEMAND FOR WATER
dc.subjectDEMAND MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectDISTRIBUTION NETWORK
dc.subjectDOMESTIC CONNECTION
dc.subjectDOMESTIC CONNECTIONS
dc.subjectDOMESTIC USERS
dc.subjectEQUITABLE ACCESS
dc.subjectFINANCIAL VIABILITY
dc.subjectFIXED TARIFF
dc.subjectFLUSH TOILETS
dc.subjectFREE WATER
dc.subjectHIGH WATER
dc.subjectHOUSE CONNECTION
dc.subjectHOUSE CONNECTIONS
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLD CONNECTION
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLDS
dc.subjectHYGIENE
dc.subjectINDIVIDUAL CONNECTIONS
dc.subjectLAUNDRY
dc.subjectLIFELINE TARIFF
dc.subjectLIFELINE TARIFFS
dc.subjectLOCAL AUTHORITIES
dc.subjectLOW WATER
dc.subjectLOW WATER PRESSURE
dc.subjectLOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
dc.subjectMAINTENANCE COSTS
dc.subjectMETER READING
dc.subjectMETER READINGS
dc.subjectMOVING PARTS
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL WATER
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENTS
dc.subjectMUNICIPALITIES
dc.subjectNATIONAL WATER
dc.subjectOPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
dc.subjectPAYMENT FOR WATER
dc.subjectPERFORMANCE DATA
dc.subjectPERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS
dc.subjectPOTABLE WATER
dc.subjectPRIVATE OPERATORS
dc.subjectPUBLIC STANDPIPE
dc.subjectPUBLIC STANDPIPES
dc.subjectPUBLIC WATER
dc.subjectPUBLIC WELLS
dc.subjectRECHARGE
dc.subjectREGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
dc.subjectRESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
dc.subjectSAFE WATER
dc.subjectSAND
dc.subjectSANITARY ENGINEER
dc.subjectSANITATION
dc.subjectSANITATION PROGRAM
dc.subjectSANITATION SERVICES
dc.subjectSANITATION UTILITIES
dc.subjectSERVICE DELIVERY
dc.subjectSERVICE IMPROVEMENT
dc.subjectSERVICE PROVIDER
dc.subjectSERVICE PROVIDERS
dc.subjectSERVICE PROVISION
dc.subjectSMALL PRIVATE PROVIDERS
dc.subjectSMALL TOWNS
dc.subjectSUPPLY INTERRUPTIONS
dc.subjectSUPPLY OF WATER
dc.subjectSUPPLY WATER
dc.subjectTARIFF SYSTEM
dc.subjectTOILETS
dc.subjectTOWN
dc.subjectURBAN AREAS
dc.subjectURBAN CENTERS
dc.subjectURBAN POPULATIONS
dc.subjectURBAN SETTLEMENTS
dc.subjectURBAN UTILITIES
dc.subjectURBAN WATER
dc.subjectURBAN WATER SUPPLY
dc.subjectUSERS OF WATER
dc.subjectUTILITIES
dc.subjectUTILITIES CORPORATION
dc.subjectUTILITY STAFF
dc.subjectVOLUMES OF WATER
dc.subjectWATER ALLOCATION
dc.subjectWATER ASSOCIATION
dc.subjectWATER BILLS
dc.subjectWATER CONNECTION
dc.subjectWATER CONNECTIONS
dc.subjectWATER CONSERVATION
dc.subjectWATER CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectWATER CUSTOMERS
dc.subjectWATER DEMAND
dc.subjectWATER LOSS
dc.subjectWATER METER
dc.subjectWATER METERING
dc.subjectWATER METERS
dc.subjectWATER NEEDS
dc.subjectWATER POINT
dc.subjectWATER POINTS
dc.subjectWATER PRESSURE
dc.subjectWATER PRICES
dc.subjectWATER SECTOR
dc.subjectWATER SERVICE
dc.subjectWATER SERVICE PROVIDERS
dc.subjectWATER SERVICES
dc.subjectWATER SOURCES
dc.subjectWATER SUPPLIES
dc.subjectWATER SUPPLY
dc.subjectWATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTIONS
dc.subjectWATER SYSTEM
dc.subjectWATER SYSTEMS
dc.subjectWATER TARIFFS
dc.subjectWATER USER
dc.subjectWATER USERS
dc.subjectWATER UTILITIES
dc.subjectWATER UTILITY
dc.subjectWATER VENDORS
dc.subjectWELLS
dc.titleThe Limits and Possibilities of Prepaid Water in Urban Africaen
dc.title.alternativeLes Limites et Possibilités de la consommation d eau Prépayée en milieu urbain en Afrique : Leçons tirées de l enquêteen
dc.title.subtitleLessons from the Fielden
dc.typeWorking Paperen
dc.typeDocument de travailfr
dc.typeDocumento de trabajoes
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crossref.titleThe Limits and Possibilities of Prepaid Water in Urban Africa
okr.date.disclosure2014-08-26
okr.date.doiregistration2025-05-05T12:35:36.193352Z
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Working Paper
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/499021468010486033/The-limits-and-possibilities-of-prepaid-water-in-Urban-Africa-lessons-from-the-field
okr.guid499021468010486033
okr.guid354391468000277279
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum000470435_20140826140705
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum20146183
okr.identifier.report90159
okr.importedtrue
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/499021468010486033/pdf/901590REPLACEM0Prepaid0Water0Africa.pdfen
okr.region.administrativeAfrica
okr.region.geographicalSub-Saharan Africa
okr.sectorWater, Sanitation and Waste Management
okr.themeUrban development :: Urban services and housing for the poor
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Pro-Poor Water Supply and Sanitation
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Town Water Supply and Sanitation
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Urban Water Supply and Sanitation
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Water Pricing and Subsidies
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Water Supply and Sanitation Economics
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions
okr.unitWater and Sanitation Program
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