Scenario Planning Tool
Urban and peri-urban sanitation systems face persistent challenges that hinder efficient service delivery and long-term sustainability. A lack of system-wide coordination often leads to:
- Fragmented infrastructure investments that do not align with local needs
- Financial strain on utilities, with unrecovered costs and disproportionate public spending on sewer systems
- Short-term, uncoordinated asset development, limiting long-term service improvements
- Limited access for underserved communities, making inclusivity an afterthought
EquiServe – an innovative scenario planning tool developed to facilitate evidence-based, coordinated actions to improve sanitation services. It assists in assessing service systems, testing different service improvements, and visualizing trade-offs, addressing key questions such as:
- Who has access to safe services and at what price?
- Who provides these services and at what cost?
It helps utilities, policymakers, and service providers:
- Ensure inclusivity by prioritizing underserved communities, reducing financial burdens, and expanding access to safe sanitation.
- Promote financial and environmental sustainability by evaluating cost-effective models, optimizing subsidies, and ensuring long-term viability
- Enhance planning and coordination by visualizing service gaps, comparing intervention strategies, and guiding strategic investments
Equiserve is developed and operated by Athena Infonomics, with grant support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and in collaboration with the Eastern and Southern Africa Water and Sanitation (ESAWAS) Regulators Association, AguaConsult, and public sector leaders from WASREB, NWASCO, and WURD.