Women and willingness to pay : assessing a community water supply management paradigm, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Date

1996

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CA

Abstract

This thesis is an investigation of the hypothesis that community management leads to sustainable water supply systems, where women are the key to achieving such sustainability, including increased willingness to pay (WTP). This hypothesis is tested by comparing performance indicators (i.e. effective use, sustainability, and replicability) of the PEGESUS evaluation framework, the role of women, and WTP of two distinct community-based (rural) management systems to an institutionalized (urban) system in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Research methodology employed a mix of participatory rural appraisal techniques, household surveys, and key informant interviews. Evaluation results revealed the community managed systems to be potentially stronger in meeting user needs. A relatively low urban WTP paled in comparison to the rural WTP's, where management style imbued an eclectic blend of religious and cultural law. Women by far represented a relatively untapped potential in both rural and urban study areas. Their participation did not in itself determine sustainability. Research findings allude to factors such as strong leadership, community organization and viable external linkages as requisites for sustainability. Further inclusion of women would complement and increase the fidelity of management given their roles as primary water users. Application of the community management approach as a vehicle for sustainable water supply systems is constrained by the enabling environment, the degree of government openness for community-based decision-making, and the overall complexity of the decision-making process.

Description

Keywords

WATER SUPPLY, WATER MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, INDONESIA, WATER QUALITY, CAPACITY BUILDING, DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION, COST ANALYSIS, WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION, SURVEYS

Citation

DOI