1.
Supporting water sanitation
and hygiene services for life
25th November 2015
Innovative approaches to WASH in
emergency situations
Analyzing the cost of water
provision in UNHCR refugee
camps
Ryan Schweitzer, PhD

2.
Objectives
1. Define cost benchmarks for strategic
planning and asset management in
the operation of water systems in a
refugee camp and refugee
settlements
2. Develop a flexible decision making
tool/model to analyze UNHCR cost
and service level data

3.
1. What is the life-cycle costing and
why do we use it?

4.
Life Cycle Costs
The costs of ensuring adequate
services (e.g. water, sanitation or hygiene)
to a specific population
in a determined geographical area
- not just for a few years but indefinitely.

5.
What are the life-cycle costs (in settlements)?

6.
What can the life-cycle cost approach be used
for?
- Budgeting and planning (e.g. UNESCO-IHE DSS)
- Monitoring: comparing against regional / country
benchmarks
- Auditing: costing a basic service level (value for
money)
- Financing: Understanding what sources of finance will
cover the costs (setting tariffs)

7.
Multi-Year Collaboration
2014- Pilot Analysis
− Pilot study on adaptation of LCC analysis to
camps
− Bambasi (Ethiopia) and Kounongou (Chad)
2015- Global Analysis (underway)
− Analysis of global datasets
− Accounting and monitoring platforms
− Develop excel-based tool and wireframes
2016 -Tool Development
− Develop full working tool internet based

8.
Pilot Study
Objective:
1. understand the structure, magnitude and
drivers of cost
2. applicability/potential of LCCA in camps
Data sources:
Reported–obtained from UNHCR HQ (WASH
Score Cards, accounting database,
monitoring reports)
Observed- water point surveys, review of
records (4 weeks in field in both camps)

9.
Pilot Study Camps
Bambasi, Ethiopia
14,000 refugees
Pump to gravity system
~366 public taps
Kounongou, Chad
21,000 refugees
Pump to gravity system
~40 WPs with multiple taps
Selected for size (generally representative)
Varying climate
Available data

10.
INDICATOR
Quantity
(l/c/d)
Quality
Aggregated
level of service
Distan
ce m
Crowding
LEVEL OF
SERVICE
Unchlorin
ated water
point
Chlorinated
water point
c / HP-
SW c/ tap
Above
standard >= 20
0 E. coli
cfu
FRC >0.5
mg/L and
NTU < 5
Quantity and
quality
indicators are
above
standards
<= 200 =< 250 =< 100
Acceptable [15 to 20 [
0.5
mg/L>=FRC
>=0.1 mg/L
and NTU < 5
At least one
indicator is
acceptable
while the other
is above
standard
> 200
[251-
500]
[101-
250]
Problemati
c [10 to 15 [ >=1 E. coli
cfu no FCR
At least one
indicator is
problematic
while the other
is acceptable or
above standard
Critical < 10 no test no test
At least one
indicator is
critical
>500 >250
Looking at Service Levels: Designed, Reported, and Received

11.
Results: Service Levels
Ethiopia
Chad
Rural settlements in
MENA: 80-90%
critical service level

12.
Camp Bambasi
(Ethiopia)
Camp Kounoungou
(Chad)
Basic Service for
regular settlements in
Africa
Capital Expenditure (CapEx)
Reported $95 $25 $30–$130
Observed $136 $71 $80–$130
Operating Expenditures (OpEx)
Reported $4 $1.10 $0.50–$5
Observed $6 $3.20 $1.70–$3.50
Expenditure on Direct Support to Service Providers (ExpDS)
Reported $4 $1.25 $1–$3
Observed $6 $3.60 $4–$6
Results: Expenditures 2014 USD / person
1. Observed population
was ~30% less than
reported
2. OpEx- Bambasi newer camp, more
resources to mobilize.

13.
Results: Cost drivers
Difference in operation costs: fuel for the piped scheme
Also water losses in piped scheme Bambasi up to 40%!!!
Difference in support to service provider: age of the camps,
Bambasi more recent and benefiting from more financial resources
than 10 year old Kounoungou
Drivers for investment costs: quantity and quality of water provided
Bambasi
camp
Kounoungou
camp
OpEx
(US$2014 / m3)
$0.5 $0.21

14.
Examples of how data can be used
Strategic planning:
− Bambasi $41k per month ($40/refugee/yr) for emergency water
supply
− OpEx for a permanent supply $8/refugee/yr.
− 44 months emergency OpEx = CapEx of permanent system
Transition/handover:
− Good services in camps vs nearby settlements (vaccum?)
− Bambasi refugee tariff of $12 per year to keep the water service,
and a refugee in Kounoungou, $6.80 per year.

15.
On-going Global Analysis
Sources:
Financial planning (FOCUS)
Accounting (MSRP)
Monitoring (TWINE)
Population data
Challenges:
2000s - evolution of accounting system
2010 -switched to results based monitoring
Account codes and expenditure descriptions changed

16.
Final results analysis
Completed Dec 2015
Expected public Jan 2016
Will include:
• Unit costs (per capita, per cubic meter)
• Cost during emergency vs. post –emergency
• Cost by output category / cost category
• Cost per service level
• Service levels

17.
Collaboration in 2016
Develop cost calculation tools
1. Cost of emergency water supply provision (excel
based)
2. Post emergency estimates by cost category (CapEX,
OpEX, ExpDS) which will be an online tool used by
UNHCR operations
Link expenditures from UNHCR partners
Expand to sanitation

18.
Visiting address
Bezuidenhoutseweg 2
2594 AV The Hague
The Netherlands
Postal address
P.O. BOX 82327
2508 EH The Hague
The Netherlands
T +31 70 3044000
info@ircwash.org
www.ircwash.org
Supporting water sanitation
and hygiene services for life
Acknowledgements:
Phase 1:
Dr Christelle Pezon
Dr. Kristof Bostoen
Melanie Carrasco
Phase 2:
Dr Ryan Schweitzer
Dr Catarina Fonseca
UNHCR-DPSM
Claudia Perlongo
Murray Burt
Franklin Golay
Reports:
http://www.ircwash.org/projects/life-cycle-cost-
approach-refugee-camps