Uptime Catalyst Facility: results-based funding for rural water maintenance services - Aqua for All

The project aims to continue the expansion of the Uptime Catalyst Facility model to new WSPs and new countries. The contract value is EUR 2,353,600 and Aqua for all’s contribution will in majority be used for disbursements to those WSPs after UCF validation of the agreed and reported results is completed.

Results-based contracts catalyze rural water service development and ensure that water keeps flowing. Grant disbursements are linked to service results through three key performance metrics (the ‘Uptime Framework’) and a standardized, transparent and scalable payment model:

· Reliability – the number of waterpoints with quarterly uptime >96%

· Water volume – the amount of water consumed

· Local revenue – the amount paid by users and institutions for the service

These performance metrics are combined in a standardized payment formula to calculate disbursement results to service providers after results are confirmed. Results-based grants supplement user payments and match a portion of local revenue – so long as the service is reliable. Results-based payments help service providers bridge shortfalls between costs and user payments to ensure service continuation and improvement in remote and rural contexts.