ABSTRACT
Faced with a global vision of universal access to ‘safely managed’ water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services framed by the Sustainable Development Goal 6, countries need to set their own targets based on an understanding of the distribution of the costs and benefits of achieving these targets. Determining the mix of public and private financing is a key policy decision that will determine the effectiveness, equity, efficiency, sustainability and affordability of WASH services. Special attention will need to be given to population categories deserving greater attention include those living in poverty as well as those who are marginalized or disadvantaged for different reasons. While the costs of reaching these populations can be higher, their potential to benefit can also be greater as they suffer multiple negative impacts due to very low rates of WASH access as well as other deprivations. Given that it is easier to raise financing from better-off populations for service expansion and improvements towards the safely managed WASH standard, it is imperative that scarce public financing is better targeted to poor and vulnerable populations to ensure that they can enjoy the benefits of better WASH services.
