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Sustainability of rural water services in rural Sub-Saharan Africa environments: developing a Water Service Sustainability Index

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Abstract

Rural water services in Sub-Saharan Africa have failures that threaten their sustainability. The article aims to develop a sustainability index for rural water services in Mvila Division (Southern Region of Cameroon) that is applicable in Sub-Saharan Africa in similar affinity pattern. Specifically, the aim is to select the evaluation criteria, determine the weightings of the criteria, and calculate the sustainability index of water services. The methodological approach used was based on multi-criteria analysis and the analytical hierarchy process and was implemented through semi-structured interviews with 19 water service experts, surveys of 80 water service managers, and a summary meeting with experts aimed at making pairwise comparisons. The developed index consists of 21 indicators grouped into six dimensions, the most important of which are the economic (34.01%) and the technical (19.96%) dimensions followed by environmental (14.65%) dimension, sustainable governance (13.10%), social (12.65%), and institutional (5.64%) dimension, respectively. In addition, self-financing capacity (17.84%), financial autonomy (11.35%), and water quality (7.18%) are the most important indicators in determining the sustainability of water services. This index provides a solid baseline on the sustainability of water services at the village level and identifies priority actions to be taken to move services towards sustainability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, PO Box: 222, Dschang, Cameroon

    Victor Dang Mvongo

  2. Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Ebolowa Branch, School of Wood, Water and Natural Resources, University of Dschang, PO Box 786, Ebolowa, Cameroon

    Célestin Defo

  3. Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences Dschang-Cameroon, Agronomy and Biodiversity Study and Research Centre, University of Dschang, PO Box: 222, Dschang, Cameroon

    Martin Tchoffo

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  1. Victor Dang Mvongo
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  2. Célestin Defo
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Correspondence to Victor Dang Mvongo.

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Mvongo, V.D., Defo, C. & Tchoffo, M. Sustainability of rural water services in rural Sub-Saharan Africa environments: developing a Water Service Sustainability Index. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 7, 46 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-021-00526-8

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