Whether in problem identification, designing solutions, or providing water services, citizen involvement can bring real and lasting change. In his research, Japheth Koros focuses on the potential of water services led by local people, demonstrating how they can contribute to achieving the United Nations water and sanitation goals (UN Sustainable Development Goal 6). It highlights challenges that slow progress in developing countries toward good water and sanitation for everyone by 2030.
According to Koros, financial constraints are a significant bottleneck, particularly because developing water and sanitation services is extremely costly.
“However, citizen-led water services, which encompass innovative approaches to water services delivery, present a viable roadmap towards accelerating water services in low-income and peripheral urban areas supplementing municipal water services, says Koros.
His research identifies actionable strategies for overcoming financial challenges, offering governments and organizations guidance to develop sustainable water supply models that are inclusive and impactful.
Prospects for small-scale water services
Focusing on Kenya, a sub-Saharan African country located on the eastern coast of the Indian Ocean, Koros’s dissertation examines SSSPs, which predominantly cover the low-income and peripheral urban areas. While they often fall short of normative standards for the human right to water – particularly in terms of quality and affordability – they are citizen-led responses to the inadequacy of public services.
Based on qualitative interviews with a diverse set of important stakeholders, Koros’s dissertation reveals strong community ownership and innovative operational approaches. Additionally, the performance of the few licensed SSSPs matches or exceeds that of public water utilities, highlighting their potential.
The research provides a detailed examination of the strengths and weaknesses of these groups, offering a practical approach to enhancing local water service models and exploring alternative methods to deliver water to cities in developing countries.
“Getting people involved locally is not just a smart move but is now the key for making sure development work lasts and can survive problems,” he says.
Japheth Koros, who comes from Kenya, became interested in citizen-run water groups while working with Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs). This inspired him to study their role as a means of ensuring water services are inclusive of everyone.
Public defence on Friday 31 October 2025
The doctoral dissertation of MSc Japheth Kibet Koros in the field of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering titled Advancing Local-level Participation in Urban Water Services will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Built Environment at Tampere University at 12 o’clock on 31 October 2025 at Hervanta Campus, auditorium RG202 of the Rakennustalo (Korkeakoulunkatu 5, Tampere).
The Opponents will be Professor Kirsti Korkka-Niemi, Geological Survey of Finland GTK and DSc. (Tech.) Miimu Airaksinen from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. The Custos will be Associate Professor Petri Juuti from the Faculty of Built Environment at Tampere University.