Basic service provision for the urban poor: the experience of development workshop in Angola

This paper describes water and sanitation programmes that have been developed in Angola over a 15 year period, designed with community organisations, local government, and the official water and sanitation agencies. The paper provides a specific history of the projects in Angola, and goes in-depth into the operational aspects of working in Angola.

Programmes devised in Angola include:

• a public standpost programme that serves some 20,000 households
• family latrine programme that built 5,000 latrines
• programme to improve solid waste collection

The paper also discusses strategies for programme sustainability and expansion, even in situations of weak local government and resource constraints.

The authors state that this case illustrates the role of local institutions in urban poverty reduction. The authors suggest that:

• poverty reduction policies must not be limited to increasing income, but must focus on a multidimensional view of poverty
• policy makers should be aware of the positive linkages in poverty reduction policies
• there are many possible entry points for reducing poverty
• the form of local poverty reduction institutions can vary with context
• successful poverty reduction policies depend on the relationship between the ‘poor’ and agencies ‘working for the poor’
• political organizations and structures must be accountable and responsive to the needs of the ‘poor'

In light of these findings, the authors propose that international organizations must broaden funding channels for local pro-poor organizations, while remaining responsive to them, and while strengthening the capacities of the local organizations themselves.