A pilot program for establishing franchises to clean and maintain school sanitation facilities has resulted in micro businesses that are now active in four school districts, totaling nearly 1,300 schools and close to 20,000 toilets in South Africa.
==== '''The project and the experiences:''' ====
Many school water and sanitation infrastructure in South Africa either requires extensive refurbishment, or is serviceable but deteriorating, and likely to deteriorate further if not supported by good operation and maintenance. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa and the company Amanz’ abantu Services ("Water for the people”) evolved and piloted an innovative system for the maintenance and servicing of water and sanitation facilities. The essence of this system is the creation of social franchising partnerships for skills development and job creation, built around quality control and mutual incentives. The system borrows from and adapts some of the same franchising principles commonly found in the way in which many petrol stations, fast food outlets, printing shops and other small businesses are set up and supported so as to ensure consistent quality and reliability of service.<br/>
Mr Mthunywa Ngonzo, the head of the DoE and an enthusiastic supporter, says he would like to see the initiative extended to many more of the 6,000 public schools in the province.<br/>
==== '''The key lessons of the story: ===='''
Dr Kevin Wall (formerly CSIR, now University of Pretoria) identified the following important lessons learned from this pilot project:<br/>
*To facilitate rapid and dissension-free agreement that the work has been performed according to contract and payment can be authorised, tasks must be as standardised as possible, and assigned standard prices.<br/>
=== '''Contribution to the SuSanA sustainability criteria:''' ===
'''Technically appropriate including O&M:''' Franchises provide toilet O&M to keep toilets in good working order.<br/>
'''Protect the Environment and Natural Resources & be Financially and Economically Viable:''' An innovative franchising scheme not only keeps school sanitation facilities in good working order but also is financially sustainable!
=== Project details: ===
'''Project location:''' 400 schools in the Butterworth district of South Africa<br/>
=== Contact ===
'''Dr. Kevin Wall'''
Department of Construction Economics
