"Policy design and performance of professional drinking water services delivery in rural Mali" by Johannes Wagner (ESR15)

Rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa is characterised by unsatisfactory service outcomes. In response, professional service delivery models are emerging to increase the operational sustainability of rural water services. However, these models struggle to generate sufficient revenue from users to be financially viable. Guided by contract and consumer demand theories, the research investigates how contract design and consumer demand affect revenue generation to sustain the professional delivery of drinking water services in rural Mali. To achieve this, the case study applies quantitative and qualitative methods to understand how rural households use and pay for reliable water services across different infrastructure types, payment modalities, and seasons. Furthermore, the research explores the extent to which formal contracts for rural water service delivery may contribute to achieving better outcomes.
 

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About the speaker

Johannes Wagner is a doctoral researcher at the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. His research examines the sustainability of rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa. His field-based study focuses on a professional service delivery model implemented in rural Mali. Prior to joining NEWAVE, Johannes worked as a policy advisor with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) for the sustainable development of the water and sanitation sector in Mali.
 

Moderators & discussants

Dr. Johanna Koehler is Assistant Professor of Environmental Risk Governance in the Public Administration and Policy Group at Wageningen University and Research. Her research interests include sustainable water services and net-zero energy transitions.

Alinta Geling, UDUMA’s former Head of Operations in Mali, and now UDUMA’s Regional Manager for service delivery in West Africa, covering operations in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali.  
 

This seminar is part of the “The Next Wave of Water Governance” Diffused Conference Thematic Seminar series. The series includes bi-weekly seminars on the key topics of water governance investigated by the NEWAVE Early Stage Researchers. You can register for learn more and see the full schedule of the upcoming sessions at this link.