What is WaterAids position on the privatization of water companies in the developing world?
WaterAid believes it is the ultimate responsibility of national and local governments to ensure all citizens have access to adequate and affordable water and sanitation services and to decide how they are delivered to all, whether via public, private or non-profit providers or utilities. As such, WaterAid encourages donors to build the capacity of national and local governments to effectively manage and regulate water and sanitation services so that those responsible for ensuring the delivery of services are accountable to, and meet the needs of, all communities, particularly poor people. In the recent past, major donors have actively promoted private sector participation and the debate has become further polarised and focused on the role of large multinational water companies. However only around 5% of the world’s water is actually distributed by large private operators and evidence suggests that there are successes and failures with both public and private approaches. WaterAid believ
