Ed Bourque
Print version
Contact Details
Department of Geography
King's College London
4th Floor
King's Building
Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
Email: edward.bourque@kcl.ac.uk
King's College London
4th Floor
King's Building
Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
Email: edward.bourque@kcl.ac.uk
Research
Urban Governance and Unequal Geographies of Water in Buguruni Ward, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
This research examines the provision of drinking water in Dar es Salaam in a context of public sector and commercial private sector failure. Kyessi (2005) notes the failure of conventional approaches and basic infrastructure to reach urban areas, particularly fringe and informal settlements of Dar es Salaam, where nearly 70% of the city’s population resides (Lupala 2002). Citywide water supply priorities have focused on supply, infrastructure, and bill collection.
Partially due to pressure from donors, Tanzania privatised the management of its water system in 2003, only to cancel the contract in 2005, citing the company’s failure to submit revenue collections, settle the lease fees, and to deliver on the contractual responsibilities (Abdul-Aziz 2005)
A public parastatal organization currently manages the system. In the absence of increased (public or private) provision, there has been a noted trend towards small-scale private providers throughout the city. Theoretically, the thesis draws from Swingedouw (1995, 1997, 2003, 2004) to help conceptualise the influence of power and governance across scales, from local to international.
The thesis examines water provision at two levels. Firstly, it includes a study of urban water governance in Dar es Salaam which includes public sector, private sector, and civil society actors and their relationships and accountability. Secondly a local case study undertaken at Buguruni ward is used to analyse the local agency of water consumers and vendors. The case study clarifies issues of shortage, water quality, and citywide pressures on water supply in the ward. Furthermore, relationships between households, local government and CBOs, and the various sellers of water in the ward are investigated.
Research findings identify tense relationships between state and civil society actors. Relevant themes include political and economic pressure, corruption and governance pressures, and problem perception. Agency is analysed through the exercise of choice, relationships, and accountability. Urban water governance models (Rogers and Hall, Franks, Brocklehurst) are used to help compare water governance between the urban and community scales.
The research contributes to wider debates on the roles of the individuals, public, private, and informal sectors in addressing gaps in urban water access, particularly regarding the implementation and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
This research examines the provision of drinking water in Dar es Salaam in a context of public sector and commercial private sector failure. Kyessi (2005) notes the failure of conventional approaches and basic infrastructure to reach urban areas, particularly fringe and informal settlements of Dar es Salaam, where nearly 70% of the city’s population resides (Lupala 2002). Citywide water supply priorities have focused on supply, infrastructure, and bill collection.
Partially due to pressure from donors, Tanzania privatised the management of its water system in 2003, only to cancel the contract in 2005, citing the company’s failure to submit revenue collections, settle the lease fees, and to deliver on the contractual responsibilities (Abdul-Aziz 2005)
A public parastatal organization currently manages the system. In the absence of increased (public or private) provision, there has been a noted trend towards small-scale private providers throughout the city. Theoretically, the thesis draws from Swingedouw (1995, 1997, 2003, 2004) to help conceptualise the influence of power and governance across scales, from local to international.
The thesis examines water provision at two levels. Firstly, it includes a study of urban water governance in Dar es Salaam which includes public sector, private sector, and civil society actors and their relationships and accountability. Secondly a local case study undertaken at Buguruni ward is used to analyse the local agency of water consumers and vendors. The case study clarifies issues of shortage, water quality, and citywide pressures on water supply in the ward. Furthermore, relationships between households, local government and CBOs, and the various sellers of water in the ward are investigated.
Research findings identify tense relationships between state and civil society actors. Relevant themes include political and economic pressure, corruption and governance pressures, and problem perception. Agency is analysed through the exercise of choice, relationships, and accountability. Urban water governance models (Rogers and Hall, Franks, Brocklehurst) are used to help compare water governance between the urban and community scales.
The research contributes to wider debates on the roles of the individuals, public, private, and informal sectors in addressing gaps in urban water access, particularly regarding the implementation and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Biography
Ed has a background in environmental planning in the U.S., and has received an M.A. in Sustainable international Development from Brandeis University and a B.A. in Biology from Colby College. Ed’s interests include environmental economics, land use planning, and development policy. As an undergraduate, he spent some time in Tanzania on a conservation semester. He speaks French and Swahili, and enjoys pretending to learn Chinese and Japanese.
