A micro-level approach to rural development planning: the case of piped water in Sierra Leone

This study addresses the need to incorporate analysis of the target area and the target population at the micro level as part of plan implementation strategies in less developed countries, especially in Africa. Such micro-level studies have several benefits, amongst which are the ease and low costs of data compilation and the potential for local input. To demonstrate these points, the proposed government distribution of water supply facilities in two villages in Sierra Leone, West Africa, is compared with an alternative distribution. While the government strategy attempts to maximize areal coverage, the alternative distribution attempts to minimize walking distance. It is shown that accessibility to the water supply facilities can be improved under the alternative approach.