Supplying water to the urban poor: Processes and challenges of community-based water governance in Dhaka city

Purpose The paper aims to explore the processes and complexities of community participation in a water supply project for the urban informal poor in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews performance of a community-based water governance entitled DSK Model. The Model includes the local urban poor community with the formal urban service providers in the process of water supply. Using a case study of Karail slum in Dhaka, the paper affirms the potential of community engagement for successful implementation of water supply project by the formal organizations. Findings The opportunity of community participation by the urban poor helps them to be engaged with the formal organizations. Community engagement not only offers them access to water supply but also ensure formal/legal existence in the city. Despite the fact, the community initiative in the slum faces huge locally situated political and socio-economic challenges. Addressing these complexities with a proper management may still...