Regional review of Payments for Watershed Services: Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper reviews both current and proposed Payment for Watershed Services (PWS) initiatives in Africa, evaluating the factors that have limited the development of PWS schemes in the region (in comparison to Latin America). Poverty alleviation is usually a primary goal of African PWS schemes, often a priority above the provision of watershed services. Consequently, there are higher transaction costs and decreased watershed service provision with these PWS schemes.