Vol. 8(30), pp. 1558-1569, 16 August, 2013 DOI: 10.5897/IJPS2013.3920 ISSN 1992 - 1950 © 2013 Academic Journals http://www.academicjournals.org/IJPS International Journal of Physical Sciences Full Length Research Paper Performance of community based organizations in managing sustainable urban water supply and sanitation projects G. E. Kifanyi 1 *, B. M. B. Shayo 2 and J. M. Ndambuki 1 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa. 2 Department of Civil Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 131 Mbeya, Tanzania. Accepted 8 August, 2013 The advocacy of climatic change and ever increasing poverty has its impact on environmental degradation. Most of underdeveloped countries have experienced this impact through technical, economic, institutional and social constraints on water supply and sanitation infrastructures. The impact has much effect in urban areas (informal settlements) due to the nature of such settlements. Lack of a sustainable approach and an appropriate technology for the provision of water and sanitation has resulted in decreased coverage in terms of percentage of the population with access to safe water and adequate sanitation, thus necessitating the need for appropriate and sustainable water and sanitation systems. New strategies for water supply delivery, particularly the community participation has emerged and some Community Based Organizations (CBOs) have made a significant contribution to the development of community participation approaches. This paper analyses the effectiveness of community participation, appropriate technologies and the institutional arrangements for the overall performance. Tanzanian CBOs managing water supply and sanitation systems were studied. Results revealed that CBOs are effective in cost recovery as well as effective water and sanitation provision in low-income earners areas. Key words: CBOs, community participation, environmental degradation, water supply and sanitation. INTRODUCTION There is a direct linkage between livelihood and well being of human beings and water supply and sanitation services. Improved water supply and sanitation ultimately contribute towards nation building and prosperity by enhancing the health status of the common mass and thus, their economic productivity. Despite significant progress recorded in the extension of basic water supply and sanitation services across the developing countries, climatic change and the ever increasing population and poverty has increased its impact on environmental degradation. Most of undeveloped countries have experienced this impact through technical, economical, institutional and social constraints on water supply and sanitation infrastructures. The impact has much effect in urban areas (informal settlements) due to the nature of such settlements. Lack of a sustainable approach and an appropriate technology for the provision of water and sanitation has resulted in decreased coverage in terms of percentage of the population with access to safe water and adequate sanitation, thus necessitating the need for appropriate and sustainable water and sanitation systems. Moreover, *Corresponding author. E-mail: gislakifanyi@gmail.com. Tel: +27765 802425.