Access of urban poor to NGO/CBO-supplied sanitation and solid waste services in Uganda: The role of social proximity

Inadequate urban sanitation and solid waste management in Uganda has prompted policy reforms in the two sectors. As part of this reform, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) have increasingly become involved in improving the sanitation and solid waste situation in poor urban informal settlements. This paper investigates whether social proximity influence access of the urban poor to sanitation and solid waste services provided by NGOs and CBOs. Using a sample of 337 households from 12 poor informal settlements in Kampala, social proximity in addition to other conventional factors proved relevant in explaining access of the poor to NGO and CBO solid waste and sanitation services.

► We investigate access of the urban poor to NGO/CBO sanitation and solid waste services.
► We estimate the determinants of access to these services.
► Some of the poor access these services through the active intervention from NGOs/CBOs.
► Besides the conventional factors, social proximity is a key determinant of access.