PARTNERSHIP IN SANITARY SERVICES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE OF BANGLADESH CITIES

This article examines the potential of partnership models for the delivery of sanitary services, such as solid waste management and sanitation, in the rapidly growing cities of developing countries, using Bangladesh as a case study. It critiques the traditional model of service delivery, which has been dominated by weak and under-resourced municipal governments. The study explores the emergence of alternative models based on partnerships between the public sector, the private sector, and community-based organizations (CBOs). The research provides case studies of such partnerships in Bangladeshi cities, analyzing their structure, performance, and sustainability. The paper argues that these collaborative approaches can offer a more efficient, cost-effective, and participatory way to address the immense sanitation crisis facing urban areas. The analysis concludes by identifying the key success factors for such partnerships and the policy changes needed to promote their wider adoption.

The challenge of providing adequate sanitary services is one of the most pressing governance issues in the burgeoning cities of the developing world. This paper explores the potential of partnership-based approaches to meet this challenge, using the cities of Bangladesh as a case study. The study begins by documenting the severe crisis in urban sanitation, highlighting the failure of the traditional, state-centric model of service delivery to cope with the demands of a rapidly growing urban population. The core of the article is an in-depth examination of a range of innovative partnership models that have emerged at the local level. It provides detailed case studies of public-private partnerships in solid waste collection, where private companies have been contracted by municipalities to provide services in specific areas. It also analyzes the important role of community-based organizations, particularly in the provision of sanitation services in low-income informal settlements, or slums. The findings from these case studies reveal that partnership models can lead to significant improvements in service coverage and quality. However, the paper also provides a balanced assessment, highlighting the challenges of regulating private providers and ensuring that services remain affordable for the poor. The paper concludes with a strong endorsement of the partnership model, but emphasizes that its success depends on a strong and capable public sector that can effectively play its role as a regulator and a facilitator, rather than as the sole provider, of urban services.