Organisational design for improved performance of urban water utilities in developing countries

Unclear roles and responsibilities and other factors related to organisational design, have been found to be some of the common barriers to providing good urban water services in developing countries. A comparative study commissioned by the World Bank in 2013 assessed how five well-performing water utilities located in different parts of the world aligned their organisational structures and management systems with their strategies and the operating environment. Lessons therefrom can be adapted for organisational (re)design of water utilities, for their improved performance, subject to enabling factors in the individual organisation’s operating environment.