The purpose of this study was to guide prospective investments in the water sector by

• assessing the relative costs, benefits and poverty impacts of multiple-use approaches over single-use approaches
• evaluating the potential market for multiple-use approaches focusing on South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

The study findings suggest that while multiple-use services cost more than single-use services, they do offer significant advantages in that they have greater potential to:

• generate more income and benefits
• decrease vulnerability
• more effectively reduce poverty
• Increase sustainability of services

The estimated potential beneficiaries from multiple use investments according this studies is over 1 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.