Output-based aid: community water project in Andhra Pradesh, India

Published on: 12/01/2009

Each village will have a water treatment plant connected to a water distribution point from which users will purchase water in jerry cans.

The scheme involves a public-private partnership between the Naandi Foundation, a local Indian NGO, Water Health International, a water purification technology provider, and the village councils.

As of September 2008, four Community Safe Water Schemes (CSWSs) have been constructed and verified, three in Krishna and one in West Godavari. The remaining 21 villages have been selected and 10 are in the process of making their community financial contributions. The GPOBA subsidy has made it easier for Naandi to borrow funds from commercial banks. The OBA approach is also promoting participatory community involvement and building capacity in the villages for managing and delivering efficient services. The grassroots fee-for-service model coupled with a sense of community engagement and ownership will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the water supply schemes.

It is anticipated that the lessons learned and methodology developed for each CSWS can readily be applied to other villages in the State of Andhra Pradesh and ultimately in other parts of India. GPOBA, Naandi, and WHI believe that scaling up is possible, as the demonstration effects of each pilot will motivate adjoining villages to engage in similar projects, accelerating demand and willingness to pay for clean water through user fees. Lessons from this project may also assist in the design of national programs aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals for water
and sanitation.

Project web site: GPOBA - India: Safe water shouldn't be a luxury (includes slideshow)

Source: Mandri-Perrott, C. (2008). Output-based aid in India : community water project in Andhra Pradesh. (OBApproaches note ; no. 21). Washington, DC, USA, Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), World Bank. 4 pp.