Department or Program

Environmental Studies

Second Department or Program

Economics

Abstract

Developing nations are dominant recipients of foreign assistance in many aspects of human development including water supply and sanitation. By concentrating on Africa and Tanzania, this thesis provides an assessment of the effectiveness of foreign aid, in the form of official development assistance, in improving the accessibility of water supply and sanitation within Africa and Tanzania. The methodology used for this thesis entailed both a qualitative and quantitative assessment. The qualitative assessment is mostly found in the literature review section in which water issues within developed and developing countries are brought forward. On the other hand, the quantitative assessment is done through a regression analysis that furthers the literature and provides a numerical perspective of the research.

The main findings indicate that foreign aid in Africa has been more effective in improving water supply and sanitation in the rural areas (0.20% population with improved access) than the urban areas (-0.018% population with improved access). On the other hand foreign aid, in Tanzania, was more effective in improving the water supply and sanitation in the urban areas (0.00034% population with improved access) than the rural areas (0.000065% population with improved access). For both settings, the findings suggest foreign aid to have worked but at a small scale. This was explained by the lack of accountability of both the local governments and the donors, and the lack of technological adaptability of using improved sources of water.

Level of Access

Restricted: Campus/Bates Community Only Access

First Advisor

Lynn Lewis

Date of Graduation

Spring 5-2014

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Number of Pages

124

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file

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