Domestic water supply policy evaluation: A comparative case study of Uganda and Madagascar between 1992 and 2016

Abstract: The purpose of the thesis is to understand which factors contribute to effective domestic water policies in developing countries. The study is carried out as a comparative case study of Uganda and Madagascar, which have, despite similar initial socio-economic conditions, experienced diverging trends in the domestic water supply between 1992 and 2016. The cases are assessed using a theoretical framework adapted for the purpose of evaluating water policies in developing countries. The factors that constitute the framework are policy and objectives, financial resources, capacity, accountability and external environment. The superior performance of Uganda compared to Madagascar is found to be a result of clear and comprehensive policies and goals, a strong and operational institutional system and a higher degree of accountability. In addition, the external environment of Uganda provided a prosperous setting for continuous development whereas Madagascar’s performance was hampered by political unrest. The paper concludes that policy planning and objectives, institutional capacity and accountability are central aspects of effective domestic water supply policies in developing countries. Furthermore, the performance is affected by the social, economic and political environment. The study is, however, limited because of the external validity of the case study method.