Life-cycle costs approach

The life-cycle costs approach seeks to raise awareness of the importance of life-cycle costs in achieving adequate, equitable and sustainable WASH services, to make reliable cost information readily available and to mainstream the use of life-cycle costs in WASH governance processes at every level.

Since 2008, WASHCost has developed new methodologies to better understand and use the costs of providing water, sanitation and hygiene services to rural and peri-urban communities in Ghana, Burkina-Faso, Mozambique and India (Andhra Pradesh).

Across Africa: governments investigating life-cycle costs to improve sector performance

News

The Government of Uganda invited experts from Mozambique, Ghana, and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre to share their experiences using the life-cycle costs approach (LCCA) to improve sector performance. This approach is raising awareness of the potential for life-cycle costs to achieve adequate, equitable and sustainable WASH services in Africa.

Fontes Foundation uses actual figures on costs of water services to convince donors

Resources

Fontes Foundation has tracked the cost of small piped water schemes for years. According to Lucrezia Keoster from Fontes Foundation Uganda, following up on investments is important for sustainability. Showing what it will cost with the actual data and figures makes all the difference for donors when convicing them of this. In this short clip, she describes the kind of information they have been collecting.

Working paper 6 - Assessing hygiene cost-effectiveness

Research publications

This Working Paper introduces a conceptual approach for assessing the cost-effectiveness of hygiene promotion. It introduces the use of hygiene effectiveness levels as a tool to analyse and compare the costs and outcomes of a number of hygiene promotion interventions. Working Paper 6 should be read alongside Working Paper 2 and Working Paper 3. The additional documents provide background on service levels and service level indicators.

Working Paper 6 - Assessing hygiene cost-effectiveness.pdf (1.2 MB)

Présentation : le coût des latrines au Burkina Faso: une application de l’approche des coûts à long terme

WASHCost Burkina Faso

Richard Bassono presented during the National Water and Sanitation Forum in Burkina Faso, and discussed how the life-cycle costs approach is applied to analyse the cost of latrines. Available only in French.

Ghana water sector looks for mutual funds and insurance to cover costs of repairs

WASHCost Ghana

The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in Ghana is considering a combination of insurance coverage options and mutual funds between villages to secure money for future repairs and maintenance of water systems in rural areas. Vida Duti, IRC Ghana Director explains in a video.

India pilot scheme will show Government value of life-cycle costs approach

WASHCost India

Snehalatha Sreedhar, Coordinator of WASHCost India, explains how the WASHCost will work with the Government on how to better contribute to national rural water supply guidelines.

The power of zero – priceless, not worthless

WASHCost Mozambique

What does it mean when the cost of a toilet is zero? Is this a cost saved or a cost lost? Is it a sign of success or a symptom of failure? WASHCost attempts to answer these questions in multiple countries, including Mozambique.