DSK Experience Re Partnerships between Urban Utilities ... - WSP

DSK Experience Re Partnerships
between Urban Utilities and Small
Providers
Dr. Dibalok Singha, DSK, Bangladesh
singha@dskbangladesh.org
www.dskbangladesh.org
Domestic Private Sector Participation (DPSP) Workshop, WSP, London, on, June 9-11, 9
2008

Discussion Topics
The Setting
Urban Context and Challenges
Journey with DWASA
– DSK Water Point
– Chronology of events
– Contract with DWASA
• Outcomes

The setting
• Bangladesh in S Asia
• Population >140 million
• Bangladesh a country
projected to have more
than fifty percent of its
population in urban
areas by 2030
• Factors contributing to
Urbanization: Rural to
Urban Migration,Urban
population Growth,
Geographic Increase of
Territories
Dhaka a mega city

The setting
• Dhaka a mega city with a
population of 12.5 million.
• About Three million
people are living in slums
of Dhaka.
• Communities willing to
pay for water and
Sanitation.
• Private vendors charge
extraordinary high rates
for water
• Often slum dwellers do
not have legal water
sanitation services in
slums.
Dhaka City Map

Start of a Journey with DWASA
• 1991
– Community members contacts DSK for water service
– DSK tries with STW however met with failures
• DSK Enters into a contact with DWASA
• 1992
– DWASA grants two water points on an exceptional
basis
– Installation of water point in one of the slums at
Tezgaon in Dhaka
– DWASA fixes social rates for water
– Bulk metering

DSK Water Point
• Provision of water services
via water points connected
to DWASA mains
• Women participation and
Leadership
• CBO’s are the agents for
success
• Behavioral change
communication
• Social and Financial
Sustainability of the project
• Strategic engagement with
LGIs
• NGO intermediation

Chronology of Events
• 1992
– DWASA allowed DSK to install two water points on an exceptional
basis.
• Since 1996
– DWASA agreed to continue such collaboration on case to case
basis;
• WSP supports scaling up of the approach, Water Aid joins
hand
• 1998 National Drinking water Policy of GoB recognized
above as possible modality of operation to provide access
of urban poor to water and sanitation services.
• 1999 DWASA MD through a public TV interview highlighted
and appreciated importance of DSK model.
• Replication of DSK model through other NGOs starts
• 2005
– DWASA signs a MoU with NGOs
• 2007
– DWASA Gazette

Outcomes
• From exceptional provision of water points to Legal
provisions
– Water service at the door step of the urban poor
• Water connection to Slums is legal
– Individual meters
– Decrease of cost for end users
– Social rates
– Women water point management committees
• Institutional Change at DWASA
– Recognition of Slum Dwellers as legal clients
– Ownership of land overruled
– Recognition of NGO intermediation
– DWASA Mou with NGOs in 2005
– DWASA Gazette, December, 2007 In relation to Sanitation may in a
position to charge less than social rates
– CBO/NGO/INGO/any other social organizations are eligible to set
up water supply service
• and collect fees in that relation.