Interest in market-based approaches to solving development challenges continues to grow. The water and sanitation sector is no exception, although discussion has been coloured by experience with public–private partnerships (PPPs). Yet the number of PPP contracts in the developing world is very limited, especially by comparison to the multitude of small, often informal, enterprises active in water or sanitation. With fewer than half of Africans connected to water or sewerage networks, arguably it is these smaller providers, many entrepreneurial in nature, that are most relevant to the development community. Whilst the existence of these providers has been known for some time, a workable modus operandi for engaging with them is still being developed. There are significant political and economic challenges to integrating them within public sector programmes. This article explores the different markets in water and sanitation provision and the roles that entrepreneurship plays. It argues that, with global interest in social entrepreneurship rising, the water and sanitation sector is well placed to capitalize on a hidden strength.

Amadora-Nolasco, F., Alburo, R.E. and Abrenica, B.L. (2009) ‘Domestic Utilization of Water and Satisfaction Level of Services Availed of from Small-Scale Water Providers in Cebu City’, unpublished report, Building Partnerships for Development (BPD) in Water and Sanitation, London.

Bereziat, E. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs, Dakar Case Study, BPD, London.

Blanc, A. (2010) AFD, Les POP de Maputo: un modèle alternatif à encourager? Agence Française de Développement, Paris.

Dardenne, B. (2006) The Role of the Private Sector in Peri-Urban or Rural Water Services in Emerging Countries, OECD, Paris.

Eales, K. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2005) Landlord or Tenant? The Importance of Rental Relationships to Poor Community Sanitation in 3 African Countries, BPD, London.

Hall, D. (2002) Water in Public Hands: An Alternative Perspective [online], PSIRU presentation to World Bank water division 19 March 2002, available from www.psiru.org [accessed 4 November 2010]. www.psiru.org

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) ‘Small-scale private service providers of water supply and electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics’, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727 (available from: http://www.worldbank.org [accessed 4 November 2010]). http://www.worldbank.org

Mukherjee, N. (2009) Total Sanitation and Sanitation Marketing Project: Indonesia Country Update, WSP, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2006) ‘Case Study on Paraguay's Aguateros’, unpublished, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2008) Small Scale Private Water Providers: Perceptions and Perspectives, BPD, London.

Rall, M. (2009) ‘Multi-stakeholder Partnerships and Urban Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Case Study: The Aguateros of Paraguay’, unpublished, BPD, London.

Sauer, J. (2009) Man Promotes Toilets, Humanure, for a Healthier Malawi [online], available from: http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi [accessed 4 November 2010]. http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi

Schaub-Jones, D. (2006) ‘Management of water supply in Mauritania’, UNDPPPPUE Newsletter 47.

Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Supporting Sanitation Entrepreneurs in Lesotho: 20 Years of Experience, BPD, London.

Solo, T.M. (1999) ‘Small-scale entrepreneurs in the urban water and sanitation market’, Environment and Urbanization 11 pp. 117-132.

Tulchinsky, T.H. and Varavikova, E. (2009) The New Public Health, Academic Press.

Valfrey-Visser, B., Schaub-Jones, D., Collignon, B., and Chaponnière, E. (2006) Access through Innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers: Considerations for practitioners and policymakers, BPDWS, London.

Valfrey-Visser, B. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs: Supporting private entrepreneurs to deliver public goods, BPD, London.

Amadora-Nolasco, F., Alburo, R.E. and Abrenica, B.L. (2009) ‘Domestic Utilization of Water and Satisfaction Level of Services Availed of from Small-Scale Water Providers in Cebu City’, unpublished report, Building Partnerships for Development (BPD) in Water and Sanitation, London.

Bereziat, E. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs, Dakar Case Study, BPD, London.

Blanc, A. (2010) AFD, Les POP de Maputo: un modèle alternatif à encourager? Agence Française de Développement, Paris.

Dardenne, B. (2006) The Role of the Private Sector in Peri-Urban or Rural Water Services in Emerging Countries, OECD, Paris.

Eales, K. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2005) Landlord or Tenant? The Importance of Rental Relationships to Poor Community Sanitation in 3 African Countries, BPD, London.

Hall, D. (2002) Water in Public Hands: An Alternative Perspective [online], PSIRU presentation to World Bank water division 19 March 2002, available from www.psiru.org [accessed 4 November 2010]. www.psiru.org

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) ‘Small-scale private service providers of water supply and electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics’, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727 (available from: http://www.worldbank.org [accessed 4 November 2010]). http://www.worldbank.org

Mukherjee, N. (2009) Total Sanitation and Sanitation Marketing Project: Indonesia Country Update, WSP, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2006) ‘Case Study on Paraguay's Aguateros’, unpublished, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2008) Small Scale Private Water Providers: Perceptions and Perspectives, BPD, London.

Rall, M. (2009) ‘Multi-stakeholder Partnerships and Urban Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Case Study: The Aguateros of Paraguay’, unpublished, BPD, London.

Sauer, J. (2009) Man Promotes Toilets, Humanure, for a Healthier Malawi [online], available from: http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi [accessed 4 November 2010]. http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi

Schaub-Jones, D. (2006) ‘Management of water supply in Mauritania’, UNDPPPPUE Newsletter 47.

Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Supporting Sanitation Entrepreneurs in Lesotho: 20 Years of Experience, BPD, London.

Solo, T.M. (1999) ‘Small-scale entrepreneurs in the urban water and sanitation market’, Environment and Urbanization 11 pp. 117-132.

Tulchinsky, T.H. and Varavikova, E. (2009) The New Public Health, Academic Press.

Valfrey-Visser, B., Schaub-Jones, D., Collignon, B., and Chaponnière, E. (2006) Access through Innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers: Considerations for practitioners and policymakers, BPDWS, London.

Valfrey-Visser, B. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs: Supporting private entrepreneurs to deliver public goods, BPD, London.

Amadora-Nolasco, F., Alburo, R.E. and Abrenica, B.L. (2009) ‘Domestic Utilization of Water and Satisfaction Level of Services Availed of from Small-Scale Water Providers in Cebu City’, unpublished report, Building Partnerships for Development (BPD) in Water and Sanitation, London.

Bereziat, E. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs, Dakar Case Study, BPD, London.

Blanc, A. (2010) AFD, Les POP de Maputo: un modèle alternatif à encourager? Agence Française de Développement, Paris.

Dardenne, B. (2006) The Role of the Private Sector in Peri-Urban or Rural Water Services in Emerging Countries, OECD, Paris.

Eales, K. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2005) Landlord or Tenant? The Importance of Rental Relationships to Poor Community Sanitation in 3 African Countries, BPD, London.

Hall, D. (2002) Water in Public Hands: An Alternative Perspective [online], PSIRU presentation to World Bank water division 19 March 2002, available from www.psiru.org [accessed 4 November 2010]. www.psiru.org

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) ‘Small-scale private service providers of water supply and electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics’, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727 (available from: http://www.worldbank.org [accessed 4 November 2010]). http://www.worldbank.org

Mukherjee, N. (2009) Total Sanitation and Sanitation Marketing Project: Indonesia Country Update, WSP, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2006) ‘Case Study on Paraguay's Aguateros’, unpublished, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2008) Small Scale Private Water Providers: Perceptions and Perspectives, BPD, London.

Rall, M. (2009) ‘Multi-stakeholder Partnerships and Urban Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Case Study: The Aguateros of Paraguay’, unpublished, BPD, London.

Sauer, J. (2009) Man Promotes Toilets, Humanure, for a Healthier Malawi [online], available from: http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi [accessed 4 November 2010]. http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi

Schaub-Jones, D. (2006) ‘Management of water supply in Mauritania’, UNDPPPPUE Newsletter 47.

Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Supporting Sanitation Entrepreneurs in Lesotho: 20 Years of Experience, BPD, London.

Solo, T.M. (1999) ‘Small-scale entrepreneurs in the urban water and sanitation market’, Environment and Urbanization 11 pp. 117-132.

Tulchinsky, T.H. and Varavikova, E. (2009) The New Public Health, Academic Press.

Valfrey-Visser, B., Schaub-Jones, D., Collignon, B., and Chaponnière, E. (2006) Access through Innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers: Considerations for practitioners and policymakers, BPDWS, London.

Valfrey-Visser, B. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs: Supporting private entrepreneurs to deliver public goods, BPD, London.

Amadora-Nolasco, F., Alburo, R.E. and Abrenica, B.L. (2009) ‘Domestic Utilization of Water and Satisfaction Level of Services Availed of from Small-Scale Water Providers in Cebu City’, unpublished report, Building Partnerships for Development (BPD) in Water and Sanitation, London.

Bereziat, E. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs, Dakar Case Study, BPD, London.

Blanc, A. (2010) AFD, Les POP de Maputo: un modèle alternatif à encourager? Agence Française de Développement, Paris.

Dardenne, B. (2006) The Role of the Private Sector in Peri-Urban or Rural Water Services in Emerging Countries, OECD, Paris.

Eales, K. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2005) Landlord or Tenant? The Importance of Rental Relationships to Poor Community Sanitation in 3 African Countries, BPD, London.

Hall, D. (2002) Water in Public Hands: An Alternative Perspective [online], PSIRU presentation to World Bank water division 19 March 2002, available from www.psiru.org [accessed 4 November 2010]. www.psiru.org

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) ‘Small-scale private service providers of water supply and electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics’, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727 (available from: http://www.worldbank.org [accessed 4 November 2010]). http://www.worldbank.org

Mukherjee, N. (2009) Total Sanitation and Sanitation Marketing Project: Indonesia Country Update, WSP, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2006) ‘Case Study on Paraguay's Aguateros’, unpublished, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Paniagua, M. (2008) Small Scale Private Water Providers: Perceptions and Perspectives, BPD, London.

Rall, M. (2009) ‘Multi-stakeholder Partnerships and Urban Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Case Study: The Aguateros of Paraguay’, unpublished, BPD, London.

Sauer, J. (2009) Man Promotes Toilets, Humanure, for a Healthier Malawi [online], available from: http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi [accessed 4 November 2010]. http://www.upiu.com/articles/man-promotes-toilets-humanurefor-a-healthier-malawi

Schaub-Jones, D. (2006) ‘Management of water supply in Mauritania’, UNDPPPPUE Newsletter 47.

Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Supporting Sanitation Entrepreneurs in Lesotho: 20 Years of Experience, BPD, London.

Solo, T.M. (1999) ‘Small-scale entrepreneurs in the urban water and sanitation market’, Environment and Urbanization 11 pp. 117-132.

Tulchinsky, T.H. and Varavikova, E. (2009) The New Public Health, Academic Press.

Valfrey-Visser, B., Schaub-Jones, D., Collignon, B., and Chaponnière, E. (2006) Access through Innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers: Considerations for practitioners and policymakers, BPDWS, London.

Valfrey-Visser, B. and Schaub-Jones, D. (2009) Engaging Sanitation Entrepreneurs: Supporting private entrepreneurs to deliver public goods, BPD, London.