Mobilizing resources for sanitation

This field note describes the approach adopted by Burkina Faso to finance urban sanitation by stimulating demand for sanitation, and then meet that demand through small scale providers. This strategy aims to develop a sustainable urban sanitation industry by creating and developing the capacity to meet long-term demand. The field note focuses on one key and unique element of the strategy: how the seed money to stimulate demand has been raised from a small surcharge added to the water bill. Aspects of the surcharge that have contributed to the success in spurring sanitation investment are: The levy and use of the surcharge by an operationally and financially viable organization; The direct transfer of surcharge revenues to a dedicated sanitation account, without the intervention of central government; The focus on sanitation promotion rather than provision; The existence of clear indicators of the surcharge's 'performance' in stimulating demand. Some recommendations are made, both to those in Burkina Faso working with the surcharge and to those in other countries who want to establish a sound basis for similar initiatives.