Pro-poor financial services for rural water: linking the water sector to rural finance
Despite the fact that the financial services sector in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are still characterized by manifold constraints and limitations, the future potential of local financial markets for financing rural water is very significant. The potential for increased involvement of local financial markets in the pro-poor water and sanitation sector is within reach. Successful approaches will require a general effort in particular by policy makers to develop financial systems in sub-Saharan countries, which would benefit from pro-poor rural financial services.