2. Why Measure and Monitor WASH
Affordability?
โข Economic access is one of the
major constraints to poor,
vulnerable and remote
populations having access to
adequate WASH
โข Subsequently, affordability is
one of the normative criteria
of the human rights to safe
drinking-water and sanitation
โข As service providers seek to
recover more costs, important
to understand the impact on
vulnerable groups
Recognized in the SDGs:
โข 'By 2030, achieve universal and
equitable access to safe and
affordable drinking water for all.โ
โข โBy 2030, achieve access to
adequate and equitable
sanitation and hygiene for all
and end open defecation, paying
special attention to the needs of
women and girls and those in
vulnerable situationsโ
3. Despite thisโฆ
โขThere is no
global
monitoring of
the affordability
of household
WASH
There is limited, if
any, national
monitoring of
affordability in
low- and middle-
income countries
4. Thereforeโฆ
We need to re-
examine what is
affordability and
how WASH
affordability can
be meaningfully
measured
5. What is
WASH
affordability?
2 angles
โAccess to water and sanitation
must not compromise the ability to
pay for other essential needs
guaranteed by human rights such as
food, housing and health care.โ
Independent Expert on the Human Rights to
Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, 2010.
โโฆpayment for water services has
to be based on the principle of
equityโฆ that poorer households
should not be disproportionately
burdened with water expensesโฆโ
General comment
6. How can
WASH
affordability
be
practically
measured?
Until now many countries, international
agencies and service providers define as
follows:
โHouseholdโs expenditure on water and
wastewater as a proportion of annual
incomeโ
JMP 2017 report: proportion of total household
expenditure on WASH services (52 countries)
7. How can
WASH
affordability
be
practically
measured?
Until now many countries, international
agencies and service providers define as
follows:
โHouseholdโs expenditure on water and
wastewater as a proportion of annual
incomeโ
JMP 2017 report: proportion of total household
expenditure on WASH services (52 countries)
However, this measure has several flaws
or questions to resolve, such as:
What about households that do not consume
the minimum level of service?
What about WASH costs that are not captured
by utility billing regimes? (+ not everyone is
connected to a utility)
What about non-financial costs such as time
spent accessing (any) service?
What is the threshold for an affordable versus
unaffordable service?
8. To resolve
these
questions,
letโs go back
to what might
be the key
dimensions of
affordability
The price or cost related to WASH services at the
household level
The spending power of the household
The price or cost of meeting other household needs
Matrix Households have to cover all
health, education, housing,
pension costs
Households receive low cost or
free health, education, housing,
pension support
WASH prices
low
WASH prices
high
WASH prices low WASH prices
high
Low income Vulnerable Most vulnerable Not vulnerable Vulnerable
Median income Not vulnerable Vulnerable Not vulnerable Not vulnerable
9. So how can we
determine WASH
affordability in a
way that is:
- Objective &
measurable
- Allows clear decision
rules that are fair
- Monitorable
(nationally-
representative data can
be collected, regularly)
Options considered:
1. What people say about
affordability and willingness to
pay
2. How people behave with respect
to price levels and price changes
3. Poverty classification
4. Policy response
10. GLAAS: what are countries doing
about WASH affordability?
โข Policies
โข Targets
โข Financial schemes
โข Targeting specific
population groups
11. Policy responses
โข Existing tariff structure
โข What are other ways of
delivering subsidies โ e.g.
subsidised loans, general
welfare payments, vouchers
โข Populations relying on
informal services?
=> Recommendation: Conduct
benefit incidence analysis โ
understand who is and who is
not receiving subsidies
How are tariffs set & applied?
What proportion of costs do they
recover?
Are tariffs inflation-adjusted?
Do tariff levels distinguish population
groups with different ability to pay?
Do tariff levels guarantee basic needs
are met?
Do tariffs incentivize conservation
(need for metering)?
Are payment plans available?
What are the consequences of non-
payment?
12. So how can we
determine WASH
affordability in a
way that is:
- Objective &
measurable
- Allows clear decision
rules that are fair
- Monitorable
(nationally-
representative data can
be collected, regularly)
Options considered:
1. What people say about affordability
and willingness to pay
2. How people behave with respect to
price levels and price changes
3. Poverty classification
4. Policy response
5. Spending as a proportion of income
13. Data source for spending: Ghana GLSS 2014/15
Other data: estimates by authors
The costs to poorer income deciles increases substantially
when the service gap and time costs are included
14. Conclusions and recommendations
โข Develop country cost norms for different service levels to assess
costs of meeting SDG targets 6.1 and 6.2 (part of finance strategy)
โข Incorporate sustainability and climate resilience
โข Compare with household income levels and government budgets
โข Analyse WASH expenditure from existing survey and utility data
โข Compile in regional and global reports
โข Adjust for the value of time spent accessing WatSan
โข Tabulate by service level, and add in costs of filling โservice gapโ
โข Undertake national affordability assessments, triangulating
different data sources, and make policy recommendations
โข Promote small scale surveys in vulnerable communities
โข Initiate cross-sectoral conversations on interpreting affordability
15. Conclusions and recommendations
โข Develop country cost norms for different service levels to assess
costs of meeting SDG targets 6.1 and 6.2 (part of finance strategy)
โข Incorporate sustainability and climate resilience
โข Compare with household income levels and government budgets
โข Analyse WASH expenditure from existing survey and utility data
โข Compile in regional and global reports
โข Adjust for the value of time spent accessing WatSan
โข Tabulate by service level, and add in costs of filling โservice gapโ
โข Undertake national affordability assessments, triangulating
different data sources, and make policy recommendations
โข Promote small scale surveys in vulnerable communities
โข Initiate cross-sectoral conversations on interpreting affordability
Affordability mentioned in SDG targets
SDG 3.8: Financial risk protection (health coverage).
SDG 3.b: Affordable essential medicines & vaccines.
SDG 4.3: Affordable education.
SDG 6.1: Affordable drinking water.
SDG 7.1: Affordable energy services.
SDG 9.1: Affordable infrastructure.
SDG 9.3: Affordable credit
SDG 9.c: Affordable internet access.
SDG 11.1: Affordable housing.
SDG 11.2: Affordable transport systems.