Exploring informalities, inequalities, and health risk in the informal water sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Access to basic water services have tremendous influence on health. Meeting the universal drinking water target under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is however a major challenge for many governments in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In many urban contexts in SSA, private and informal water enterprises are essential to improving access to basic water services. They provide critical water services especially to areas not served by public water systems. Building on discussions around water-related jobs, this paper provides a review of characteristics of informal water work and the associated health risks. We believe there is an opportunity to develop a more critical scholarship that simultaneously attends to the contribution of the informal water sector as well as policies needed to ensure safe and decent work environment for workers in the informal water and sanitation sector.