Outsourcing and Local Public Administration: Water and Sanitation Services Delivery and Women Participation in Urban Areas

Abstract

Women in developing countries are the majority of those who access and use water and sanitation services but women’s low participation at decision making level in outsourcing and limited representation of women in services departments of local public administration aremajor obstruction to include women’s interests. The purpose of this paper is to analyze perceptions of women citizensand local officialsregarding water and sanitation services delivery situation, women responsive requirements and gender equality at decision making level in outsourcing. In order to conduct an empirical research, this paper has used multifactor structured questionnaire and for this purpose population of public sector local officials including women and women citizens are taken to ascertain the rationale of the study field.Women are most dissatisfied with the services, women responsive requirements and gender equality at decision making level while preparing the outsourcing requirements of services delivery but local officials hold more positive feelings. This study also finds that there is inadequate representation of women in the front line of basic public services organizations such as water and sanitation. It is important for public organizations to include women and women should get involvement in outsourcing requirements to improve water and sanitation services.