A lived experience assessment of public–private partnerships delivering rural water services in Rwanda

Abstract

Performance measures of public–private partnerships (PPPs) for water services provision have tended to focus on countable features of the physical infrastructure, ignoring the lived experience of using the water. Using mixed methods, we explore how the PPP model has performed across two managed systems in rural Rwanda using both technical functionality measures and metrics that reflect the experiences of the intended beneficiaries. Findings evidence mixed system performance against both sets of metrics, underpinned by a lack of strong accountability measures. The paper offers actionable evidence in support of policymakers' efforts to design more equitable and impactful PPP schemes.