Challenges And Practices Of Urban Infrastructure Service Provision: Evidence From Water And Power Service Sectors In Ambo Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

The real situation that triggered researcher to conduct the study was the inadequacy of access and quality of water and power infrastructure service provision today in Ambo town. Hence, the study aimed to examine challenges and practice of urban infrastructure service provision particularly water and power service sectors in ambo town. Descriptive research design and mixed research approach were employed to realize the objective of the study. The target population of the study includes the household of Sankale Fares, Awaro Kura and Kisose Odoliban kebeles. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used. From probability sampling, simple random sampling was employed to select 156 respondents and from non-probability sampling; Judgment (Purposive) sampling was employed. Both primary and secondary data sources were used. Data were collected by using questionnaires, interviews and observations. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study’s results revealed that the main challenges of water and power service delivery in Ambo town involve financial inadequacy, limited technical capacity, urbanization and population growth, limited private sector participation and good governance problems. In addition, the study result indicated that the practice and quality of water & power infrastructure services provision in the town were very low. Furthermore, the study confirmed the absence of community participation in water and power services provision practices and processes in the town. Finally, the study recommended that Ambo town’s water and power service officers should design appropriate policy and planning on the development of adequate, sustainable and effective water and power supplies. Ambo town’s water and power service officers should make an effort to ensure community participation and give great attention for practice and quality on both sectors during services provision.