Significant factors affecting effectiveness of community-based organizations in rural water supply sector of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Water as a basic need of all humans, their ultimate expectation is to have health and well-being life fulfilled with social and economic development through getting access to use of safe drinking water. Subsequently, providing adequate drinking water to all poor living areas has become a major challenge in developing countries like Sri Lanka. Community engagement in rural water supply (RWS) projects should become essential as the client and end-users are not involved in the project management process during a typical project. Therefore, the aim of the research is to investigate the factors which are significantly affect for effectiveness of Community Based Organisation (CBO) management in both client’s perspective and community perspective. A mixed approach was utilized for the study. A comprehensive literature review was intended to explore factors which are affecting for effectiveness of CBO management. Significant factors were observed through semi structured interviews based on Delphi technique to collect data on client’s perspective. Questionnaire survey was carried out based on close ended questionnaires to collect CBO perspective data. Data was analysed via content analysis to generate qualitative outcome while RII technique was utilised to analyse statistical data. Effective revenue, effective billing to collection ratio, effective CBOs’ managerial level, effective stakeholder relationship and monitoring quality of water were identified as both perspectives agreed factors. The most significant factor on CBO perspective was considered as effective CBOs’ managerial level while client perspective factors such as effective CBO involvement in operation and maintenance phase, development of CBO performance and relationship between National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) and CBOs was considered as most significant. Outcome of the study can be recommended to use as a tool before commencing the water supply project for aware about which factors are mostly assist to increase the effectiveness of CBO management.