In order that development may proceed in a logical fashion within a particular sector, some kind of planning must be implemented. in its simplest form, planning can take the shape of a needs assessment. The purpose of this manual is to assist planners and decision makers in conducting a simple needs assessment survey for the water and wastewater sectors of rural Egypt. This manual is not intended to produce a definitive model of sector problems, but merely to provide an introduction to the types and extent of the problems villages experience. For example, by undertaking an assessment it may become obvious that a village's predominant problem is solid waste accumulation, or that while the village is well developed physically and socioeconomically, it lacks a constant water supply in certain areas. While this manual is not a panacea for detailed planning .tis a useful tool which can be used to help prioritize village needs so that those most urgent are addressed first. This manual has also been designed to complement and form part of the detailed TOR which has been proposed for governorates to conduct sector wide needs assessments and strategic planning.