In developing countries, there are few institutional mechanisms for the incorporation of demand information in the planning of public services. As a result, misjudgements about consumer preferences have often led to poor project design and performance. The contingent valuation method which relies on direct elicitation of consumer preferences and willingness to pay has emerged as one approach to address this shortcoming. The paper describes an application of the method to facilitate demand-driven planning for provision of improved sanitation in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The results suggest that demand information about unfamiliar technologies can be successfully obtained and can serve as a useful input in the design of public services.
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