Working Paper 8. Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) and Poverty: Micro-level linkages in Ethiopia.
Abstract
It is often argued that investments in water supply and sanitation (WSS) generate wide-ranging economic benefits. At the household level, improved access to WSS is expected to lead to significant improvements, not only in human health and welfare but also in levels of production and productivity. Because of these wide-ranging effects, investments in WSS are considered important instruments for poverty reduction but, while the expected benefits from investments in WSS are considerable, empirical evidence to support this remains quite limited. This study presents micro evidence, from a survey of 1500 households in Eastern Hararghe (Ethiopia), which enables a better understanding of the impacts of improved WSS access on health, timesaving and productive employment and poverty. Conclusions are drawn and policy implications discussed.
This evidence clearly shows that improving access to water supply infrastructure alone is not sufficient to bring about desired public health benefits. Therefore, the pathways through which improved access to water supply has impacted poverty reduction in the study areas have to do with direct improved health benefits and through timesaving-induced increased participation of households in off/non-farm employment. Determinants of off/non-farm employment and poverty were also systematically analysed and factors identified; recommendations are made to enhance these poverty impacts of water supply improvements.
Citation
Hagos, F.; Boelee, E.; Slaymaker, T.; Tucker, J.; Ludi, E.; Awulachew, S.B. Working Paper 8. Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) and Poverty: Micro-level linkages in Ethiopia. (2008) 39 pp.
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