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Concerned about the provision of a public water supply and sanitation services in developing countries, with special reference to Africa, this paper explores the questions of who delivers such services, the extent to which the private sector is involved, the strengths and weaknesses of existing patterns of service delivery, and alternative means of improving service delivery cost, efficiency, and effectiveness, especially through public-private partnerships. Most water systems in the developing world are built and operated by public entities which are plagued with overcentralisation and politicisation as well as poor management. As in most developing nations, central governments in Africa like to be involved in the operations of water authorities, to set policy for them, and to use them as tools for political ends, with problems of maintaining the system of tariff issues and efficient operations. Some of the managerial problems stem from central government interference in what is best handled by municipalities. Approaches to public-private partnerships in the Ivory Coast, Botswana and Kenya are reviewed.