Poverty Eradication by Improving Waste Collection: an African Case Study
Anne Briand  2, 1, @  , Noukignon Kone * , @
2 : UMR 201 IRD IEDES Développement et Sociétés Paris 1 panthéon Sorbonne
université paris 1 Sorbonne
1 : CREAM, University of Rouen Normandy
Université de Rouen Normandie : EA4702
* : Corresponding author

The article analyzes data from a Contingent Valuation survey that we conduced in 2014 among 402 households in low-income settlements of Abidjan in order firstly, to identify the determinants of stated demand for an informal waste collection service and secondly, to evaluate the benefits of using this service on different impact variables linked to human development. Indeed, households are exposed to negative externalities (odours, insects, health risks, loss of quality of life) that could lead them wish to offset the loss of utility with an individual investment in the informal service. The article contributes to the academic literature and gives recommendations in terms of economic policy applied to the waste sector in Africa. Firstly, our study identifies the determinants of stated demand for the informal service and the ability of households to finance an improved service. Secondly, the article evaluates the beneficial effects of using the informal service by the propensy score method. We evaluate the impact of the use of the informal service on the monthly amount that households are willing to pay for the improved service. We quantify the benefits in terms of socioeconomic and human development.

Subject : : paper
Comment : We carried out our own survey of 402 households in low-income settlements in Abidjan in 2014. This survey allowed us to observe on-site household waste management practices and also to learn about willingness to pay for the establishment of a service improvement program. Households were interviewed about the amount they would be willing to pay to benefit from this new service as well as their ability to pay a tax for each kilogram of waste produced. The results thus shed light on the feasibility of the project, especially in terms of household financial contribution to this program. In addition, by applying an econometric method of impact evaluation, our study helps us determine whether the current waste collection service is a factor in reducing household poverty. We show in fact that household use of an informal waste collection service is a step forward in the fight against poverty. We evaluate to what extent informal waste collection helps improve economic, social, and sanitary conditions in the informal settlements surveyed in the Ivory Coast capital.
Topics : Poster session
Keywords : household surveys ; contingent valuation ; matching method ; waste management ; willingness to pay ; incentive pricing ; sub Saharan Africa.
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