Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa
Despite progressive policies and a legal framework that includes the constitutional right to sufficient water, there are still enormous problems with water service delivery in low income rural South Africa. To understand the factors responsible for the observed discrepancy between ambitious policies...
| Autores principales: | , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2020
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109668 |
| _version_ | 1855535515709734912 |
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| author | Hofstetter, Moritz Bolding, A. van Koppen, Barbara |
| author_browse | Bolding, A. Hofstetter, Moritz van Koppen, Barbara |
| author_facet | Hofstetter, Moritz Bolding, A. van Koppen, Barbara |
| author_sort | Hofstetter, Moritz |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Despite progressive policies and a legal framework that includes the constitutional right to sufficient water, there are still enormous problems with water service delivery in low income rural South Africa. To understand the factors responsible for the observed discrepancy between ambitious policies and disappointing water service delivery, we undertook an analysis of the implementation of these policies in Sekhukhune District, South Africa; we scrutinised the public service water delivery in that district using an actor-oriented approach. We found that during the four phases of public water services delivery – identification, planning, construction and operation – practices often deviated from the stipulated policies; we also found that accountability relations between service delivery agencies and end users were undermined by gatekeeping and patronage. We argue that there is no need for major policy changes; we concluded from our research that by mobilising mechanisms that are based on existing policies, accountability relations can be strengthened and service delivery improved. We describe an experimental approach which focuses on budget transparency and end-user-driven development; it is an approach which aims at strengthening the agency of end users while limiting possibilities for rent-seeking and gatekeeping by councillors and contractors. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace109668 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateRange | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1096682024-03-22T10:24:39Z Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa Hofstetter, Moritz Bolding, A. van Koppen, Barbara patronage accountability political aspects community involvement investment financing project planning local government rural areas public services water policy infrastructure water supply Despite progressive policies and a legal framework that includes the constitutional right to sufficient water, there are still enormous problems with water service delivery in low income rural South Africa. To understand the factors responsible for the observed discrepancy between ambitious policies and disappointing water service delivery, we undertook an analysis of the implementation of these policies in Sekhukhune District, South Africa; we scrutinised the public service water delivery in that district using an actor-oriented approach. We found that during the four phases of public water services delivery – identification, planning, construction and operation – practices often deviated from the stipulated policies; we also found that accountability relations between service delivery agencies and end users were undermined by gatekeeping and patronage. We argue that there is no need for major policy changes; we concluded from our research that by mobilising mechanisms that are based on existing policies, accountability relations can be strengthened and service delivery improved. We describe an experimental approach which focuses on budget transparency and end-user-driven development; it is an approach which aims at strengthening the agency of end users while limiting possibilities for rent-seeking and gatekeeping by councillors and contractors. 2020-09-01 2020-09-28T05:46:41Z 2020-09-28T05:46:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109668 en Open Access Hofstetter, Moritz; Bolding, A.; van Koppen, Barbara. 2020. Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa. Water Alternatives, 13(3):843-863. |
| spellingShingle | patronage accountability political aspects community involvement investment financing project planning local government rural areas public services water policy infrastructure water supply Hofstetter, Moritz Bolding, A. van Koppen, Barbara Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa |
| title | Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa |
| title_full | Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa |
| title_short | Addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end-user agency: the case of the Sekhukhune District, South Africa |
| title_sort | addressing failed water infrastructure delivery through increased accountability and end user agency the case of the sekhukhune district south africa |
| topic | patronage accountability political aspects community involvement investment financing project planning local government rural areas public services water policy infrastructure water supply |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109668 |
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