Social value of the welfare benefits and potential demand for improved fecal sludge management in urban settlements in Uganda

Abstract

Poor fecal sludge management, common in communities relying on on-site sanitation, severely threatens the achievement of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). With public funding often insufficient, household contributions, driven by the perceived welfare benefits of sanitation, become crucial. This study used a contingent valuation study on 308 households in an urban Ugandan settlement to quantify the social value of improved sanitation's welfare benefits. A random effects probit model was employed to estimate these benefits and simulate the uptake rate under various policy scenarios. The analysis revealed a substantial social value of UGX 2.13 billion (USD 591,888) per month attributable to the welfare benefits of improved sanitation. The projected uptake rate for improved sanitation could be as high as 58.2%. This variation was primarily influenced by the payment interval, the amount levied for sanitation services, and the community's awareness of the impacts of poor FSM. The research recommends two policy actions: Increased government investment in FSM infrastructure, specifically trucks and treatment plants, noting that households are willing to contribute to operational costs. Community awareness campaigns should be initiated to boost the uptake of improved FSM services, which will consequently increase the realized social value of the welfare benefits.