Urban water governance : access, control and inequality in Khulna city of Bangladesh

Abstract

This research explores the water supply system in slums and poor settlements in Khulna City, Bangladesh. Firstly, this research reviews the development interventions in slums and investigates to what extent the non-slum poor settlements have been studied in the scientific literature. Secondly, the research investigates the geographical inequality in water supply infrastructure in Khulna by exploring the water supply system in the slums and non-slum poor settlements in that city. Thirdly, it discusses formal and informal water governance, including the actors, their decision-making processes and challenges for slums, poor settlements, and the city. The exploration of water-related vulnerabilities outside of slum areas is important as many cities in the Global South are experiencing growing populations in non-slum poor settlements. Development activities, however, propelled by international donor agencies focus mostly on slums. Rupsha, the largest slum in Khulna city and two poor settlements have been studied. Data collection and analysis has followed the mixed-method approach. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire survey in slum and poor settlements. A total of 198 household surveys were conducted. Interviews with residents, local leaders, NGOs, and formal and informal service providers were also conducted to understand the personal experiences and vulnerabilities. This research brings two important perspectives which need to be addressed in the current development theory and practice. Firstly, this research shows that despite decades of interventions, water vulnerabilities of slum residents persists. Community organizations in the slums have been found ineffective, and residents assert that they rely on the local leader and political parties in power to avail the services. Community participation could not influence the city’s water supply policy, nor could the policy and advocacy redirect the mainstream funding for the slum and poor communities. This research concludes by identifying three areas of future theoretical and practical contributions. First, it argues that the growing trend of an increasingly urban population in non-slum poor settlements has not been explored in the academic literature. This research maintains that inquiry of inequality should not be confined to a specific city area, given that slums accommodate only a portion of the growing number of poor people. Secondly, participatory governance has focused on slums and stresses institutional arrangements. Moreover, community-based organizations remain unsuccessful in influencing the city-level policy framework.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English