“Village Water Supply: Economics and Policy in the Developing World,� 1976 NUMBER 049 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 2006 January 2016 The World Bank Group Archives Exhibit Series contains exhibits originally published on the Archives’ external website beginning in 2002. When the Archives’ website was transferred to a new platform in 2015, it was decided that older exhibits would be converted to pdf format and made available as a series on the World Bank’s external database, Documents & Reports. These exhibits, authored by World Bank archivists, highlight key events, personalities, and publications in the history of the World Bank. They also bring attention to some of the more fascinating archival records contained in the Archives’ holdings. To view current exhibits, visit the Exhibits page on the Archives’ website. “Village Water Supply: Economics and Policy in the Developing World,� 1976 About the Publication The result of this study was the research paper “Village Water Supply: Economics and Policy in the Developing World,� written by Robert J. Sounders and Jeremy J. Warford of the Bank’s Energy, Water and Telecommunications Department. The purpose of this paper was to describe and raise awareness of the extent and nature of the problem as well as provide some suggestions for dealing with it. The authors explored the following topics in detail: Use of an old well, Yako area, Upper Volta, 1974 - the character and magnitude of the problems connected with water supply and sanitation; - the relation between water supply and water-borne disease, and also social and economic activity; - the effects of improved water supply and sanitation on productivity, incomes, rural-to-urban migration, and overall development; - problems of water supply program planning, administration, operation and maintenance; - and the importance of recovering program costs. World Water Forum 2006 The Fourth World Water Forum “Local Actions for Global Challenge� will take place in Mexico City on March 16-22, 2006. The Forum is a six day event, which will be followed by a Ministerial Conference. Each day will be dedicated to one of the five topics: - water for growth and development; Use of an artesian well, Koupela area, Upper Volta, 1974 - implementing integrated water resources management; - water supply and sanitation for all; water for food and the environment; - and risk management. The Bank is supporting thematic and regional preparations for this Forum. Besides participating in international events on water supply and sanitation, the World Bank addresses the issues through the Well in Tayenda, Upper Volta, Water Supply and Sanitation Sector. 1982 This sector focuses on supporting client countries in four areas: - extending water supply and sanitation services to the urban poor; - improving operator performance; - increasing rural access to sustainable water supply and sanitation; - and better managing the water resource base. The World Bank’s lending portfolio in water supply and sanitation is over US$6 million, which makes it the largest external financier in this sector. Well in Tayende, Upper Volta, 1982