Supporting water sanitation

and hygiene services for life

25th November 2015

Innovative approaches to WASH in

emergency situations

Analyzing the cost of water

provision in UNHCR refugee

camps

Ryan Schweitzer, PhD

Objectives

1. Define cost benchmarks for strategic

planning and asset management in

the operation of water systems in a

refugee camp and refugee

settlements

2. Develop a flexible decision making

tool/model to analyze UNHCR cost

and service level data

1. What is the life-cycle costing and

why do we use it?

Life Cycle Costs

The costs of ensuring adequate

services (e.g. water, sanitation or hygiene)

to a specific population

in a determined geographical area

- not just for a few years but indefinitely.

What are the life-cycle costs (in settlements)?

What can the life-cycle cost approach be used

for?

- Budgeting and planning (e.g. UNESCO-IHE DSS)

- Monitoring: comparing against regional / country

benchmarks

- Auditing: costing a basic service level (value for

money)

- Financing: Understanding what sources of finance will

cover the costs (setting tariffs)

Multi-Year Collaboration

2014- Pilot Analysis

− Pilot study on adaptation of LCC analysis to camps

− Bambasi (Ethiopia) and Kounongou (Chad)

2015- Global Analysis (underway)

− Analysis of global datasets

− Accounting and monitoring platforms

− Develop excel-based tool and wireframes

2016 -Tool Development

− Develop full working tool internet based

Pilot Study

Objective:

1. understand the structure, magnitude and drivers of cost

2. applicability/potential of LCCA in camps

Data sources:

Reported–obtained from UNHCR HQ (WASH Score Cards, accounting database, monitoring reports)

Observed- water point surveys, review of records (4 weeks in field in both camps)

Pilot Study Camps

Bambasi, Ethiopia

14,000 refugees

Pump to gravity system

~366 public taps

Kounongou, Chad

21,000 refugees

Pump to gravity system

~40 WPs with multiple taps

Selected for size (generally representative)

Varying climate

Available data

INDICATOR

Quantity (l/c/d)

Quality

Aggregated

level of service Distance m

Crowding

LEVEL OF SERVICE

Unchlorinated water

point Chlorinated water point

c / HP-SW c/ tap

Above standard >= 20

0 E. coli cfu

FRC >0.5 mg/L and NTU < 5

Quantity and quality

indicators are above

standards

<= 200 =< 250 =< 100

Acceptable [15 to 20 [ 0.5

mg/L>=FRC >=0.1 mg/L

and NTU < 5

At least one indicator is acceptable

while the other is above standard

> 200

[251-500]

[101-250]

Problematic [10 to 15 [ >=1 E. coli

cfu no FCR

At least one indicator is problematic

while the other is acceptable or above standard

Critical < 10 no test no test At least one indicator is

critical >500 >250

Looking at Service Levels: Designed, Reported, and Received

Results: Service Levels

Ethiopia

Chad

Rural settlements in

MENA: 80-90%

critical service level

Camp Bambasi (Ethiopia)

Camp Kounoungou (Chad)

Basic Service for regular settlements in

Africa

Capital Expenditure (CapEx)

Reported $95 $25 $30–$130

Observed $136 $71 $80–$130

Operating Expenditures (OpEx)

Reported $4 $1.10 $0.50–$5

Observed $6 $3.20 $1.70–$3.50

Expenditure on Direct Support to Service Providers (ExpDS)

Reported $4 $1.25 $1–$3

Observed $6 $3.60 $4–$6

Results: Expenditures 2014 USD / person

1. Observed population

was ~30% less than

reported

2. OpEx- Bambasi newer camp, more

resources to mobilize.

Results: Cost drivers

Difference in operation costs: fuel for the piped scheme

Also water losses in piped scheme Bambasi up to 40%!!!

Difference in support to service provider: age of the camps,

Bambasi more recent and benefiting from more financial resources

than 10 year old Kounoungou

Drivers for investment costs: quantity and quality of water provided

Bambasi

camp

Kounoungou camp

OpEx (US$2014 / m3)

$0.5 $0.21

Examples of how data can be used

Strategic planning:

− Bambasi $41k per month ($40/refugee/yr) for emergency water

supply

− OpEx for a permanent supply $8/refugee/yr.

− 44 months emergency OpEx = CapEx of permanent system

Transition/handover:

− Good services in camps vs nearby settlements (vaccum?)

− Bambasi refugee tariff of $12 per year to keep the water service,

and a refugee in Kounoungou, $6.80 per year.

On-going Global Analysis

Sources:

Financial planning (FOCUS)

Accounting (MSRP)

Monitoring (TWINE)

Population data

Challenges:

2000s - evolution of accounting system

2010 -switched to results based monitoring

Account codes and expenditure descriptions changed

Final results analysis

Completed Dec 2015

Expected public Jan 2016

Will include:

• Unit costs (per capita, per cubic meter)

• Cost during emergency vs. post –emergency

• Cost by output category / cost category

• Cost per service level

• Service levels

Collaboration in 2016

Develop cost calculation tools

1. Cost of emergency water supply provision (excel based)

2. Post emergency estimates by cost category (CapEX, OpEX, ExpDS) which will be an online tool used by UNHCR operations

Link expenditures from UNHCR partners

Expand to sanitation

Visiting address

Bezuidenhoutseweg 2

2594 AV The Hague

The Netherlands Postal address

P.O. BOX 82327

2508 EH The Hague

The Netherlands T +31 70 3044000

info@ircwash.org

www.ircwash.org

Supporting water sanitation

and hygiene services for life

Acknowledgements:

Phase 1:

Dr Christelle Pezon

Dr. Kristof Bostoen

Melanie Carrasco

Phase 2:

Dr Ryan Schweitzer

Dr Catarina Fonseca

UNHCR-DPSM

Claudia Perlongo

Murray Burt

Franklin Golay

Reports:

http://www.ircwash.org/projects/life-cycle-cost-

approach-refugee-camps