Social value of the welfare benefits and potential demand for improved fecal sludge management in urban settlements in Uganda

Abstract

Poor fecal sludge management is derailing attaining SDG 6 (ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all) especially in developing countries relying mostly on on-site technologies. Inadequate public funding largely jeopardizes sanitation provision. Households can contribute to sanitation provision because they value its welfare benefits. A contingent valuation study was conducted in Wakiso district on a sample of 308 households to estimate the social value of the welfare benefits of improved sanitation. A random effects probit model used to estimate welfare benefits and simulated to determine uptake rate of improved sanitation under different policy scenarios. Findings show that the social value of the welfare benefits was UGX 1.7 billion (USD 469,850) per month. Uptake rate ranges between 4.4 – 41.6 percent, largely influenced by education, monthly charge and awareness of poor fecal sludge management in the community. We recommend that government agencies mandated to provide sanitation invest more in fecal sludge management (trucks and treatment plants) to bolster sanitation because households can contribute to operational costs. Secondly, the agencies should embark on creating awareness in communities to increase the likelihood of taking up improved fecal sludge management services, which in turn increase the social value of welfare benefits.