Decentralization on the Example of the Yemeni Water Sector

The paper introduces to the theoretical and practical dimensions of decentralization in an accessible and systematic way. On the example of the reform process for the Yemeni Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (UWSS), it links the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological aspects of decentralization to empiric problems. Against the background of the increasing water scarcity in Yemen, a reform process for the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (UWSS) was initiated in 1997. The main elements of the reforms were decentralization, corporatization, commercialization, community participation, financial sustainability, private sector integration, and separation between service delivery, executive, and regulatory functions. Since the start of the reform process UWSS services have progressively been decentralized and the over-centralized National Water and Sanitation Authority (NWSA) has been gradually replaced by a system of UWSS utilities. In 2000 the first local corporation (LC) for UWSS was established in Sanaa and, to date, fifteen LCs, seventeen LC branches, and eleven Autonomous Water Supply and Sanitation Utilities (AUWSSU) are responsible for UWSS services for 95% of the urban population. The UWSS reforms are well underway and are showing results in terms of expanded service delivery and improved performance. However, there are several issues that need to be observed in order to consolidate the on-going decentralization and to produce the targeted outcomes. Furthermore, UWSS needs to respond to high population growth and water scarcity; freshwater availability in Yemen is one of the lowest in the world. Capacity building needs to be extended and more ownership and authority should be decentralized.