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Massive investments are needed to expand access to basic services (see Box 3). This necessitates strong political will and financial investment at all levels of government, as well as from international institutions. For many low-income countries, the investments required exceed domestic funding capacity and will require better targeting of international aid. GOLD III has demonstrated that localized investment and implementation strategies and the increased involvement of local governments and stakeholders are critical. The chronic shortage of financing for basic services is a crucial factor in their low efficiency. Resources are inadequate to extend access and improve quality; existing infrastructure and facilities are worn-out in many regions; inefficiencies are widespread in all basic services. In Africa, the World Bank estimates that reducing inefficiencies in the water sector and a better-targetting of subsidies at the poor could contribute USD 2.9 billion annually to the current funding gap of USD 14.3 billion.97 The same is true in Latin America, where the gap is USD 8.1 billion.98 The improved management of services, essential to reduce inefficiencies, requires the strengthening of local governments and their utilities, as well as improvements to multi-level and multi-stakeholder governance. These challenges require the revision of local and national policies and priorities, improved partnerships with other local governments and other stakeholders (particularly the private sector and local communities). The ideal is regular supplies of piped water and a toilet in each home, access to electricity, regular collection of solid waste for each household, and safe, affordable public transport. Where funds and capacities are lacking and backlogs are immense, local governments should explore and support, in collaboration with experts, intermediate solutions that can bring immediate benefits
to low-income groups, including alternative systems. Better quality provision can then be introduced when funding and capacity are available.
Participation and accountability This report demonstrates clear but uneven progress in citizen participation and accountability in the field of basic services. Frequently, public participation is understood as the right of citizens to have access to information about tariffs and budgets, to make complaints, or sometimes to co-足 produce services (where access is limited or non-existent). Paradoxically, public participation in decision-making is deemed to be of minor importance. In several regions, citizen participation takes the form of open meetings of local councils to debate services provision policies, online debates, public meetings, referendums and public consultations. Service users can participate in the establishment of water tariffs and quality standards in England, in Consultative Committees for Local Public Services in France, or appeal municipal decisions and to propose users initiatives in Finland. Consultation and control mechanisms in management and decision-making are also used in Latin America (Colombia, Chile and Peru). In some cases, despite positive legislation, service users stress the difficulties of genuine participation due to asymmetries of knowledge and resources between service users, private providers and public authorities. Mechanisms to gather and respond to user complaints include client panels, electronic feedback systems, service inquiries, and feedback boxes. In some countries, there are national and local public consumer protection bodies. The idea of local ombudsmen has gained ground in Europe and Latin America. There have also been efforts
Foster and Brice単o-Garmendia (2010) p. 299, table 16.6. 97
Foster and Brice単o-Garmendia (2010) p. 8; CAF (2012) pp. 44-45. 98