An analysis of potential performance improvement in Freetown’s water utility using the AquaRating system

The water utility serving the capital of Sierra Leone, Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) faces significant challenges delivering sustainable services. To determine the potential scope within GVWC for performance improvement and to identify areas of focus for the planned investment from international partners the AquaRating (AR) system was used for the first time in Africa. The final AR score of 9.62 has underscored the challenges GVWC is presently facing in the management and delivery of quality services. However, analysis at thematic and sub-thematic levels have highlighted some positive practices in corporate governance and stressed other areas, such as customer care and water treatment processes, where efforts should be focused over the next three years. Additionally, the AR results provide an objective baseline to measure improvements over time while GVWC aims to reach the global benchmark of what a ‘well performing’ utility does.