by Alain Bühlmann

Abstract

Market based approaches to safe water development are a promising tool with several advantages to the conventional donor approach. Not only can profit-oriented businesses achieve long-term financial sustainability but also do they have the potential to grow in size. Furthermore, successful social enterprises might be replicated in other countries. Despite this, doing business at the bottom of the pyramid is no easy task.

This thesis addresses the question of how locally successful projects can be scaled up in a financially sustainable way. Based on literature research and a case study the analysis shows that “microfranchising” is among the most promising strategies to address that challenge.

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