The Impact of the Covid-19 on the Provision of Public Services: A Survey Study on the Water and Sanitation Company in Giza

Global developments and transformations have brought about many changes across various countries, particularly in developing nations, manifested in globalization, the communications revolution, the effects of international agreements, and global economic and trade openness.
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant developments experienced worldwide, creating an urgent need for governments to seek effective solutions to meet the needs of their citizens. This study aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of public services, focusing specifically on the case of the Water and Sanitation Company in Giza, Egypt.
The study begins by shedding light on the development and spread of the coronavirus and its effects on the government sector in general and public service delivery in particular, followed by an analysis of the major problems faced by the governmental apparatus. Numerous weaknesses related to administrative and organizational systems were identified. Additionally, the field study assessed and analyzed the impact of the pandemic on public service delivery.
This study employed a descriptive-analytical approach to present and analyze the data collected; a total of 126 questionnaires were distributed to senior management and officials at the Water and Sanitation Company in Giza.
The study concluded with a presentation of the key findings from the field study, which highlighted a significant lack of sufficient attention to technical or managerial training for employees at the Water and Sanitation Company to cope with the challenges posed by the crisis (with 98% of the sample expressing this view), resulting in an inability to manage administrative and organizational problems and diminishing performance effectiveness.
Furthermore, 95% of the sample indicated that poor work performance is linked to inadequate financial returns, necessitating a reconsideration of the wage and incentive system within the public sector. Additionally, the lack of adequate financial resources and support weakens government agencies and limits the willingness of administrative units to expand and develop services for citizens, with this issue ranking third, as noted by 93% of the sample. This ranking logically reflects the most significant problems faced by the administrative apparatus during the COVID-19 crisis