Discussion Papers
These Discussion Papers, often co-published with other key sector organisations, aim to stimulate critical debate about the major challenges facing WASH service provision for the urban poor, and to propose radical new approaches for overcoming these challenges.
Discussion Paper 1:
Evaluating the health impact of urban WASH programmes
This paper argues for more widespread evaluation of the health impacts of WASH interventions with the aim of assessing the impact of particular interventions. We suggest that more frequent evaluation could contribute to improved effectiveness, by encouraging investors and implementers to focus on impacts rather than outputs.
Discussion Paper 2:
This report assesses the feasibility of a financing model, Progress-Linked Finance (PLF), designed to incentivise and support WASH service providers to meet the needs of poor urban residents in a financially sustainable manner. Under the PLF model, international financing institutions would enter into commitment agreements with urban WASH service providers.
Discussion Paper 3:
Financing water and sanitation for the poor: six key solutions
In the lead-up to World Water Forum 2012, sector specialists throughout the world have been asked to report specific solutions for addressing this challenge. Based on these concrete examples, IRC and WSUP today propose six Key Solutions for pro-poor WASH finance. We urge financing institutions, governments and service providers worldwide to put these Key Solutions into practice.
Discussion Paper 4:
Market-driven models for sanitation in low-income areas are of unquestionable importance, but there is broad consensus that the market needs to be supported by some sort of public revenue stream. One approach to revenue generation is to include a sanitation surcharge within water bills.
