Many of the key issues and responses emerging in newly formulated partnership approaches focused on the poor are central developmental concerns - they are not related to just one service sector. Yet many partnerships tend to assume that these processes are established for the partnership alone. For instance:
• Subsidies and tariffs Decision-making over subsidies and tariffs is linked to municipal government decision-making about the level and targeting of poverty reduction interventions. Deciding on water subsidies in isolation from sewerage, drainage, health and education is not feasible, particularly when finances are constrained. Policy is required to determine prioritisation and resource allocation. At the local level, the tariff structure can be a complex concern that is affected by the political decision-making of municipalities (and higher levels of government) in relation to different services, community groups and localities.
• Demand-responsiveness Awareness of the factors affecting service demand and affordability, and the development of flexibility in service delivery mechanisms, are crucial in effective urban management. The poor constantly balance their service needs as part of their overall livelihood strategy, which undergoes constant adjustment to suit the changing household circumstances. The cost of different service options, for instance, needs to be considered in terms of individual household strategies and city-wide municipal capacity.
• Land tenure The lack of tenure security is a primary structural problem affecting the livelihoods of the poor. The security and safety of women and the ability of the poor to earn an income and obtain credit are affected, as are physical services. Government (at all levels) has land management responsibilities that includes improving tenure security for a vast number of poor households. Partnerships involving the private sector obviously raise the profile of tenure issues, as investment in infrastructure will be curtailed until settlements are deemed legal; but tenure is a strategic urban management and poverty reduction issue loaded with political and social implications.
• Informal service providers The formalisation of the informal sector is a city-wide concern forming part of the economic development strategy of the city. Efforts to legalise particular service providers must be seen in the dynamic and interdependent context of a wide range of informal service providers. Intervening in established processes may affect the livelihoods of the poor significantly. Enforcing standards of water quality, for instance, may put small-scale providers out of business and deprive poor households of water. Parallel activities may be required to mitigate any negative impacts of change.
• Community participation and empowerment The capacity of the community to participate meaningfully in development is not restricted to one project or one specific period of time. Many community-based initiatives start in one sector and ultimately contribute to an overall process of community development. Ideally, mechanisms for participation should be a part of a programme of activities that are effectively integrated or linked over time. They should take into consideration the different capacities of individuals and communities, the demands placed on their time and the assets at their command.