Why Detailing Spatial Equity Matters in Water and Sanitation Evaluations

Abstract

Efficiency metrics in water and sanitation performance benchmarking are widely referenced, even where the most serious challenge facing cities is actually extending the service reach of public water and sanitation systems. Critical scholarship on water governance gives water and sanitation planners reason to question whether such performance benchmarks are universally appropriate references. This is especially the case where there is not yet universal water and sanitation coverage. In such environments, the extensive use of efficiency-based benchmarks couple with the growth of financialization to create vulnerabilities for equity-based objectives. Citizen report cards represent an important, spatially informed alternative for assessing utilities’ performances.

Keywords:

• benchmarks
• financialization
• spatial equity
• utilities
• water and sanitation

Notes

1 See more about the Gates Institute’s efforts on the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) project on the project's website (Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, n.d.).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gabriella Y. Carolini

GABRIELLA Y. CAROLINI ([email protected]) is an associate professor of international development and urban planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Prassanna Raman

PRASSANNA RAMAN ([email protected]) recently received her PhD from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT.