Hydraulic ram pumps and Sling Pumps

OP-32-ETable 4: Community management and cost recoveryForms of community management and possible implication on cost recoveryA Water CommitteeResponsible of all activities (managerial, operational, technical and financial) of a particular scheme, covering alarger area than a neighbourhood, possibly the whole community. Same as above, but need for greaterorganisation and financial management capacity.A Village AssociationA village association is responsible for all development activities concerning the village, including water andsanitation. Higher degree of organisation needed using the whole capacity of the village. Financial organisationand use of resources not always specifically oriented towards water and sanitation.A Coordinating Water CommitteeA Water Committee coordinating several other smaller tap or neighbourhood committees. The larger watercommittee is responsible for overall managerial and financial matters, while the smaller committees areresponsible for operation, maintenance and collecting fees.A Water Committee contracting a private bodyA water committee contracts a private body (an individual, a mechanic, a group of skilled workers or a firm).The Water Committee fixes prices and rules, while the private body collects fees, pays the bills for O&M andreports to the Water Committee.Delegated responsibility by local authorityDelegated management transfers part of the management of a service to someone else or to another body.The following options differ in terms of managerial and financial responsibility.• Management contracts to a committee or an individual The municipality remains responsible for theservice for investments and for tariff setting, but delegates its management to a committee or an individual,under a remuneration contract. Under this option, the municipality organises and plans cost recovery; thecommittee or the individual just executes the terms of the contract.• Special management contract to a committee or an individual This is the same as the managementcontract above, but remuneration is based on an agreement with the municipality for a percentage of thecollected tariffs. The committee or the individual has a direct interest in the efficient management of theservice, since it receives a percentage of revenues, but necessarily an interest in integrating a socialdimension.• Leasing / renting contractual arrangements with a committee or water association The municipalityestablishes a contract with a committee or association. The municipality retains responsibility forinvestment; the committee or association is responsible for operating and maintaining the service, and ispaid through collected tariffs. The association has control over the tariff, but does not fix it. It has like aninterest in efficient management for better revenue, but not necessarily in facilitating access to allmembers of the community.• Public administration (co-operative association) Distinct legal status, and financial autonomy. Controlled byan Assembly of Associates, where the municipality is one member among others, under the authority ofthe Municipal Council. Associates are free to determine their cost recovery strategies, and the result is aconsensus among all stakeholders.• Concession to community associations Associations created by a General Assembly of users, with theauthorisation of the Municipal Council. They manage and operate the system in an autonomous way,unless cost sharing arrangements are made between the community and the municipality.Clear financial arrangements allow for an effective cost recovery because communities are morewilling to participate when they have a sense of justice and clarity. These agreements also define theirownership. In conclusion, clear financial arrangements allow:• contributions towards full cost coverage,• clarity about who is going to finance the water supply system (governments, donors,communities),• financial flows that bring in money at the right moment,• a commitment between financial parties,• a formalised arrangement.22