Leasing, a new handpump O&M concept

The future of sustainable Rural Water Supply in Africa is still uncertain, in spite of it receiving nearly half a million donated handpumps. After the Water Decade from 1980 to 1990 the investment by donors has continued. Unfortunately it seems that there is now a need for extra donor funding to maintain these services, because they are not presently sustainable. This paper discusses some underlying causes and suggests an alternative and more integrated approach to deal with the logistical and financial limitations of handpump maintenance that became evident in the last decade.