Small Local Service Provision for Water Service Delivery in Western Kenya: Inception Report

Typically, small, local providers, who are often not recognized or regulated officially, will informally serve a significant proportion of the people without access to piped water connections in the absence of reliable public service provision. In Kenya, USAID URBAN WASH is partnering with the national regulator, Water Services Regulatory Board, and utilities in western Kenya to conduct implementation research on how cities have begun to formalize these local water vendors. This research will inform decision-making regarding formalizing water vendors by: Understanding the choices made by utilities to engage water vendors, and the conditions that influence this choice. Understanding how utilities implement engagements with water vendors. Measuring and understanding the impact of engaging water vendors from the perspective of households and vendors. This research inception report provides background information on water services in Kenya, summarizes key evidence gaps, and details the planned research methods.