Sanitation in developing countries: integrated solutions, including the financial options

Small-scale independent providers (SSIPs) and households are good for 10 to 69% of the household water supply and sometimes up to 95% of the sanitation solutions in cities in developing countries. Different types of SSIP can be distinguished. They could make a more important contribution to drinking water and sanitation in a situation where many governments cannot be the only one to supply drinking water and sanitary services. Theoretical and practical arguments are used to explain why private sector involvement (PSI) is more frequent in sanitation than in drinking water.

The issue how to improve the efficiency in the sanitation sector will be raised by looking at possibilities to unbundle sanitation, to use technological innovations and to bring in more competition. The need for alternative technologies and sources of finance is stressed, since a full fledge sewerage system in every Third world city would just contribute to increased foreign debt in many countries.