Access to services in low income urban communities in Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania

Rapid urbanisation and rising population growth in may countries is putting increasing pressure on the provision of services including water, sanitation, health, education, electricity, mobile phones, transport and street lighting. People living in urban areas have better access to services (water supply, sanitation, health services, schools, mobile phones) than those living in rural areas, despite the challenges of keeping up with growing urban populations. Completed as part of the 'RurbanAfrica' research project this paper provides an overview of services by low-income communities in urban areas of four case study countries; Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania, outlining the barriers to access for each service. In all four countries, urban households have much better access to improved water sources and mobile phones than to improved sanitation.