Global progress has been made in increasing access to drinking water, but 780 million people still lack access. Ensuring drinking water services are sustainable long-term requires addressing factors like lack of skilled technicians, insufficient funding for maintenance, and weak local government capacity. A study of 13 countries found common barriers to sustainable service delivery include incomplete decentralization, weak sector collaboration, and insufficient support for local water providers. Closing the financing gap and achieving universal access will require effective long-term planning, multi-stakeholder cooperation, and support focused on local service delivery and asset management.
Trends in rural water sector development addressing the challenges of sustai...IRC
- Rural water sectors have made progress in increasing coverage levels from around 30-40% to 50-70% in many countries, but challenges remain in ensuring the sustainability and long-term functionality of systems.
- Recurrent costs and the need for ongoing support to maintain systems is often underestimated, with functionality rates declining to 60-70% in some areas.
- As sectors mature, the focus and costs shift from initial capital expenditure to supporting ongoing operation and maintenance through activities like monitoring, training, and financing capital maintenance. This transition requires strengthening sector institutions and policies.
The Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) infrastructure gap particularly affects low-income and marginal areas. Efficient, targeted subsidy mechanisms are needed for sustainable public financing of WSS access.
The Governance of Service Delivery for the Poor and Women:A Study of Agricult...essp2
The document summarizes a research project studying agricultural extension and rural water supply in Ethiopia. It aims to understand how well services are reaching farmers, particularly women, and the challenges in providing these services. The study uses surveys of households, local leaders, and service providers in 8 districts across Ethiopia to examine access to extension services and drinking water. Qualitative case studies in 4 districts will provide additional context on service delivery and governance arrangements. Key research questions include the level of outreach achieved by extension services, their responsiveness to gender needs, and how decentralized drinking water supply systems function in practice.
The life-cycle costs approach is a methodology for assessing and monitoring the costs of sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene services. It involves estimating costs from initial construction through to repairs, replacements, and expansions over the entire life cycle. Adopting this approach requires considering all cost aspects to ensure appropriate and sustainable service levels. The approach has been tested in several countries, finding that most costs are currently borne by households with little support for maintenance. Using life-cycle cost analysis can reveal insights on cost-effectiveness and value for money to improve investments and ensure sustainable services.
Improvement in Community Toilet Complex Services through community monitoringIRC
The document discusses improving community toilet complex (CTC) services in Delhi through community monitoring. It outlines how FORCE established CTC monitoring teams of community members to regularly inspect CTCs and report issues to FORCE and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. This led to improvements in infrastructure maintenance and service delivery. It also created community awareness of roles and rights. The program has now scaled to cover 75 slums in Delhi and its community-led model is seen as potentially replicable in other areas.
Media, Modernization and Millenials...What's the future of settlement work?settlementatwork
This presentation, for the Newcomer Organization Network of Peel, provides an overview of key trends and innovations that are and will influence the nature of settlement work and providing services to newcomers to Canada. It focuses on settlement funding "modernization", use and integration of social media in our work, and demographics of service providers, including desirable characteristics agencies should look for, regardless of age.
Measuring More than Pipes and Pumps: The Evolution towards Levels of Service...IRC
Prepared by Kate Fogelberg, Regional Manager Water for People, South America.
Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium, 9 - 11 April 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Trends in rural water sector development addressing the challenges of sustai...IRC
- Rural water sectors have made progress in increasing coverage levels from around 30-40% to 50-70% in many countries, but challenges remain in ensuring the sustainability and long-term functionality of systems.
- Recurrent costs and the need for ongoing support to maintain systems is often underestimated, with functionality rates declining to 60-70% in some areas.
- As sectors mature, the focus and costs shift from initial capital expenditure to supporting ongoing operation and maintenance through activities like monitoring, training, and financing capital maintenance. This transition requires strengthening sector institutions and policies.
The Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) infrastructure gap particularly affects low-income and marginal areas. Efficient, targeted subsidy mechanisms are needed for sustainable public financing of WSS access.
The Governance of Service Delivery for the Poor and Women:A Study of Agricult...essp2
The document summarizes a research project studying agricultural extension and rural water supply in Ethiopia. It aims to understand how well services are reaching farmers, particularly women, and the challenges in providing these services. The study uses surveys of households, local leaders, and service providers in 8 districts across Ethiopia to examine access to extension services and drinking water. Qualitative case studies in 4 districts will provide additional context on service delivery and governance arrangements. Key research questions include the level of outreach achieved by extension services, their responsiveness to gender needs, and how decentralized drinking water supply systems function in practice.
The life-cycle costs approach is a methodology for assessing and monitoring the costs of sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene services. It involves estimating costs from initial construction through to repairs, replacements, and expansions over the entire life cycle. Adopting this approach requires considering all cost aspects to ensure appropriate and sustainable service levels. The approach has been tested in several countries, finding that most costs are currently borne by households with little support for maintenance. Using life-cycle cost analysis can reveal insights on cost-effectiveness and value for money to improve investments and ensure sustainable services.
Improvement in Community Toilet Complex Services through community monitoringIRC
The document discusses improving community toilet complex (CTC) services in Delhi through community monitoring. It outlines how FORCE established CTC monitoring teams of community members to regularly inspect CTCs and report issues to FORCE and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. This led to improvements in infrastructure maintenance and service delivery. It also created community awareness of roles and rights. The program has now scaled to cover 75 slums in Delhi and its community-led model is seen as potentially replicable in other areas.
Media, Modernization and Millenials...What's the future of settlement work?settlementatwork
This presentation, for the Newcomer Organization Network of Peel, provides an overview of key trends and innovations that are and will influence the nature of settlement work and providing services to newcomers to Canada. It focuses on settlement funding "modernization", use and integration of social media in our work, and demographics of service providers, including desirable characteristics agencies should look for, regardless of age.
Measuring More than Pipes and Pumps: The Evolution towards Levels of Service...IRC
Prepared by Kate Fogelberg, Regional Manager Water for People, South America.
Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium, 9 - 11 April 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
This document summarizes a national stakeholder workshop on community management of rural water supply systems in India. It discusses how community-based management (CBM) has become a dominant model globally but faces sustainability issues like high non-functionality rates. It presents data showing CBM is widely used in many countries for rural water coverage but that post-construction support is lacking. The document calls for a "community plus" approach where governments provide more predictable long-term support to improve sustainability of CBM-managed systems in India and beyond. It outlines objectives to study successful CBM cases in India and categorize different support needs based on context to develop sustainable management models.
The document discusses decentralization of rural water services in various countries. It finds mixed progress, with many local governments still struggling due to limited skills, resources, and ability to support full life-cycle service delivery. Success seems linked to broader public sector reforms. While countries have decentralized policies, implementation is often incomplete with unclear roles and limited local capacity. Fiscal decentralization especially lags, leaving local governments without sufficient funds to do their jobs.
IRC Ghana takes takes its sustainability message to governmentIRC
This document summarizes a presentation on achieving sustainable water services at scale in Ghana. It discusses the sustainability challenges Ghana faces in providing water access to all given investments made but ongoing issues. The conceptual framework of Triple-S (Service Delivery Approach, Model, and Sustainability) is introduced. Opportunities for addressing sustainability gaps are identified, including ongoing initiatives, balanced sector financing, institutionalizing monitoring, and ensuring coordination. Accountability frameworks are discussed to promote sustainability commitments from governments and communities. Partnership across sectors is emphasized to advance sustainable water services.
This document discusses decentralization of rural water services in various countries. It finds that while all countries have undergone or are undergoing decentralization processes, progress has been mixed, with some experiencing only "paper reforms" that fail to provide local governments with the capacity or resources to take over responsibilities. Success in rural water sectors appears linked to broader public sector reforms, including stable fiscal flows to local governments and clear definition of roles. However, local governments often still lack skills and resources to fully support water service delivery life cycles. The process of decentralization takes many decades even in developed countries.
presentation on the triple bottom line performance of AirtelHarsh Shah
This is a presentation made as a part of our Corporate Social Responsibility project. We have analyzed the triple bottom line performance of AirTel on the basis of their sustainability reports of 2011-12 and 2012-13.
The Ultra Poor Graduation model aims to help ultra poor households escape poverty through a holistic approach providing savings, financial education, skills training, healthcare, and more. Evaluations of the model use randomized controlled trials to rigorously measure the impact on outcomes like consumption, income, assets, and health compared to untreated control groups. Initial results from some sites show promising increases in food consumption and security, but more long-term data is still needed to fully understand the model's effectiveness. Adaptations are exploring the most cost-effective program components.
This document discusses the role of community-based extension systems in bridging the gap between resource-poor farmers and extension services. It reviews systems implemented in 4 countries, finding that community extension agents remain active and are the preferred source of information for remote farmers. Keys to success identified include selection and training, formal recognition, income opportunities, availability and flexibility, and accountability. The document argues that community-based systems should complement, not compete with, other approaches through strategic support at national levels.
PPP Project: Notes of Senegal's PPP strategy for its rural electrification pr...Alvaro HIDALGO
Senegal has developed a strategy using public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address its rural electrification challenges, but implementation has faced difficulties. The strategy includes two programs - PPER for large concessions and ERIL for smaller local initiatives. However, of the six large PPER concessions planned by 2012, only two have been assigned. Success requires sound economics based on demand data, securing political support, and a transparent bidding process, but stakeholder alignment and delays have hindered progress. Access to reliable data on demand and clear rules around concession areas are still needed to encourage more private investment in rural electrification.
This document discusses rural water service delivery models in Ethiopia. It finds that the main models are self-supply and community management by water committees, with municipalities managing small towns. The key challenges are lack of post-construction support, weak community management, and high non-functionality rates. Harmonizing approaches across organizations could improve efficiency and sustainability by reducing costs, standardizing practices, and enabling joint monitoring and planning. However, overcoming institutional barriers and differing donor requirements would be challenging. The report recommends awareness-raising, leadership, capacity building, pilot-testing, and risk management to facilitate effective harmonization.
1. The document summarizes findings from a Triple-S Uganda assessment of adherence to the District Implementation Manual (DIM) guidelines for rural water service delivery in two districts.
2. Key findings include inadequate dissemination and awareness of the DIM, sections that are not commonly used or are outdated, and the potential of the DIM is not fully exploited.
3. Recommendations are to simplify commonly used DIM sections, improve dissemination through existing structures, and consider updating the DIM to reflect recent developments in the sector.
This document discusses strategies for improving the functionality of rural water supply services in developing countries. It finds that 25-60% of water schemes are non-functional due to lack of maintenance and asset management. Promising solutions discussed include post-construction support through local mechanic associations in Uganda, which achieved up to 96% functionality; putting functionality on national agendas in Nepal and Tanzania; and water point mapping for accountability in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya. The lessons are that functionality must be prioritized politically, local examples combined with national commitment, and evidence-based stakeholder dialogue used to improve accountability for performance.
The document summarizes an ultra poor graduation pilot program designed by BRAC that uses a holistic approach to support households' needs through savings, financial education, skills training, and healthcare. Randomized evaluations are being conducted at 10 sites to measure the program's impact on outcomes like consumption, income, assets, and food security compared to control groups. Initial results from India and Bangladesh show some increases in food consumption and security, but mixed impacts on health and limited effects on non-food consumption and education. Further evaluation of different program components is needed to identify the most cost-effective elements to scale the model.
Digital Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion in IndiaCGAP
Digital Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion in India outlines key elements for implementing digital cash transfers in India to achieve greater financial inclusion. It recommends establishing a one stop shop model where individuals can access government payments, financial services, and other functions in one location through digital infrastructure and interoperable backend systems. This would provide efficiencies for the government and more convenient access to services for users. The document also stresses the importance of coordination, developing sustainable business models for agents, and addressing issues like connectivity in rural areas.
Professionalising rural water services: a response to the sustainability chal...IRC
The document discusses challenges and strategies around providing sustainable rural water services at scale. It summarizes findings from a multi-country study looking at service delivery models and their drivers. Key findings include that community management is still predominant but trends toward professionalization; a variety of delegated contract models are emerging; and strengthening institutions, monitoring, accountability and national leadership are important for achieving sustainable services.
Triple s ghana presentation @ MOLE XXIII conference 23rd august ,2012IRC
This document summarizes a presentation on a sustainability model for water service delivery in East Gonja District, Ghana. The presentation discusses:
1) The Triple-S initiative, which supports rural water sectors in Ghana and Uganda to develop innovative approaches to improve water services.
2) Baseline findings from East Gonja District which showed low functionality of water points and piped systems, and substandard service levels.
3) The district's response to the findings, which included rehabilitating water systems, developing an action plan to support service authorities and committees, and exploring options to improve water quality and supply.
Broken pumps and pipes: Why the rural water sector has failed to deliver trul...International WaterCentre
- The rural water sector has struggled to deliver sustainable services, with 30-40% of hand pumps in Africa not functioning and 730 million still unserved.
- There has been an overemphasis on expanding coverage through infrastructure building without consideration for long-term operation and maintenance costs, leading to high failure rates.
- A new service delivery approach is needed that focuses on establishing permanent water services through strengthened sector policies, cost planning, oversight, capacity support, and long-term funding commitments rather than just expanding coverage.
The Rural Maintenance Programme (RMP) in Bangladesh evolved over several phases from 1983 to strengthen the capacity of rural women and improve rural road infrastructure. Key aspects of the evolution included expanding coverage of unions, increasing government financial contributions over time, establishing self-help groups for women, and conducting evaluations to improve the program. The RMP's goal was to contribute to long-term economic growth through a cost-effective road maintenance program that improved socioeconomic conditions for destitute women.
Presentation 4.4 Project level methodologies and practicejohnabutterworth
The document discusses two case studies of projects that implemented measures to reduce corruption:
1) The Kecamatan Development Project (KDP) in Indonesia mapped sources of corruption and implemented concrete measures like simplifying financial reporting, direct fund transfers, and independent auditing and monitoring which reduced losses from 30-20%.
2) The Kerala Rural Sanitation Programme in India faced 30-35% malpractice. It developed measures over 5 years like improved information sharing, financial controls, accountability, and training to prevent cartel formation which reduced costs, increased usage from 5% to over 90%, and reduced external subsidies from 80% to 15%.
Presentation 4.4 Project level methodologies and practicejohnabutterworth
The document discusses two case studies of projects that implemented measures to reduce corruption:
1) The Kecamatan Development Project (KDP) in Indonesia reduced corruption by simplifying financial processes, transferring funds directly to village banks, requiring multiple signatures for transactions, and promoting social accountability through public meetings and independent auditing. This reduced losses from 30-20%.
2) The Kerala Rural Sanitation Programme in India faced 30-35% losses due to widespread malpractices. It developed measures over 5 years like improving transparency, installing financial controls, training masons, competitive bidding, and community oversight which reduced costs and improved outcomes like consistent toilet use.
Session Building from WASH to IWRM - photo galleryIRC
On 15 October 2023, by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and IRC organised a panel session titled Building WASH into IWRM at the 9th International Conference on Water and Flood Management (ICWFM 2023).
The session drew examples from three NGO-led diverse WASH programmes intervening in different regions and different administrative settings of Bangladesh. The three NGOs that shared their programme experiences were BRAC, SNV and the Max Foundation.
Learn more
https://www.ircwash.org/blog/wash-crucial-component-iwrm
The document summarizes photos taken in 2023 of the sewage plant in Norton, Zimbabwe. The plant was originally constructed in the 1950s but had fallen into disrepair by 2017. It underwent refurbishment with support from Welthungerhilfe to repair damaged infrastructure like leaking sewage pipes. The conventional treatment plant includes intake works, primary clarifiers, trickling filters, humus tanks, and sludge drying beds. While parts of the system have been repaired, the partially treated sewage still flows directly to nearby farms from the holding ponds.
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This document summarizes a national stakeholder workshop on community management of rural water supply systems in India. It discusses how community-based management (CBM) has become a dominant model globally but faces sustainability issues like high non-functionality rates. It presents data showing CBM is widely used in many countries for rural water coverage but that post-construction support is lacking. The document calls for a "community plus" approach where governments provide more predictable long-term support to improve sustainability of CBM-managed systems in India and beyond. It outlines objectives to study successful CBM cases in India and categorize different support needs based on context to develop sustainable management models.
The document discusses decentralization of rural water services in various countries. It finds mixed progress, with many local governments still struggling due to limited skills, resources, and ability to support full life-cycle service delivery. Success seems linked to broader public sector reforms. While countries have decentralized policies, implementation is often incomplete with unclear roles and limited local capacity. Fiscal decentralization especially lags, leaving local governments without sufficient funds to do their jobs.
IRC Ghana takes takes its sustainability message to governmentIRC
This document summarizes a presentation on achieving sustainable water services at scale in Ghana. It discusses the sustainability challenges Ghana faces in providing water access to all given investments made but ongoing issues. The conceptual framework of Triple-S (Service Delivery Approach, Model, and Sustainability) is introduced. Opportunities for addressing sustainability gaps are identified, including ongoing initiatives, balanced sector financing, institutionalizing monitoring, and ensuring coordination. Accountability frameworks are discussed to promote sustainability commitments from governments and communities. Partnership across sectors is emphasized to advance sustainable water services.
This document discusses decentralization of rural water services in various countries. It finds that while all countries have undergone or are undergoing decentralization processes, progress has been mixed, with some experiencing only "paper reforms" that fail to provide local governments with the capacity or resources to take over responsibilities. Success in rural water sectors appears linked to broader public sector reforms, including stable fiscal flows to local governments and clear definition of roles. However, local governments often still lack skills and resources to fully support water service delivery life cycles. The process of decentralization takes many decades even in developed countries.
presentation on the triple bottom line performance of AirtelHarsh Shah
This is a presentation made as a part of our Corporate Social Responsibility project. We have analyzed the triple bottom line performance of AirTel on the basis of their sustainability reports of 2011-12 and 2012-13.
The Ultra Poor Graduation model aims to help ultra poor households escape poverty through a holistic approach providing savings, financial education, skills training, healthcare, and more. Evaluations of the model use randomized controlled trials to rigorously measure the impact on outcomes like consumption, income, assets, and health compared to untreated control groups. Initial results from some sites show promising increases in food consumption and security, but more long-term data is still needed to fully understand the model's effectiveness. Adaptations are exploring the most cost-effective program components.
This document discusses the role of community-based extension systems in bridging the gap between resource-poor farmers and extension services. It reviews systems implemented in 4 countries, finding that community extension agents remain active and are the preferred source of information for remote farmers. Keys to success identified include selection and training, formal recognition, income opportunities, availability and flexibility, and accountability. The document argues that community-based systems should complement, not compete with, other approaches through strategic support at national levels.
PPP Project: Notes of Senegal's PPP strategy for its rural electrification pr...Alvaro HIDALGO
Senegal has developed a strategy using public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address its rural electrification challenges, but implementation has faced difficulties. The strategy includes two programs - PPER for large concessions and ERIL for smaller local initiatives. However, of the six large PPER concessions planned by 2012, only two have been assigned. Success requires sound economics based on demand data, securing political support, and a transparent bidding process, but stakeholder alignment and delays have hindered progress. Access to reliable data on demand and clear rules around concession areas are still needed to encourage more private investment in rural electrification.
This document discusses rural water service delivery models in Ethiopia. It finds that the main models are self-supply and community management by water committees, with municipalities managing small towns. The key challenges are lack of post-construction support, weak community management, and high non-functionality rates. Harmonizing approaches across organizations could improve efficiency and sustainability by reducing costs, standardizing practices, and enabling joint monitoring and planning. However, overcoming institutional barriers and differing donor requirements would be challenging. The report recommends awareness-raising, leadership, capacity building, pilot-testing, and risk management to facilitate effective harmonization.
1. The document summarizes findings from a Triple-S Uganda assessment of adherence to the District Implementation Manual (DIM) guidelines for rural water service delivery in two districts.
2. Key findings include inadequate dissemination and awareness of the DIM, sections that are not commonly used or are outdated, and the potential of the DIM is not fully exploited.
3. Recommendations are to simplify commonly used DIM sections, improve dissemination through existing structures, and consider updating the DIM to reflect recent developments in the sector.
This document discusses strategies for improving the functionality of rural water supply services in developing countries. It finds that 25-60% of water schemes are non-functional due to lack of maintenance and asset management. Promising solutions discussed include post-construction support through local mechanic associations in Uganda, which achieved up to 96% functionality; putting functionality on national agendas in Nepal and Tanzania; and water point mapping for accountability in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya. The lessons are that functionality must be prioritized politically, local examples combined with national commitment, and evidence-based stakeholder dialogue used to improve accountability for performance.
The document summarizes an ultra poor graduation pilot program designed by BRAC that uses a holistic approach to support households' needs through savings, financial education, skills training, and healthcare. Randomized evaluations are being conducted at 10 sites to measure the program's impact on outcomes like consumption, income, assets, and food security compared to control groups. Initial results from India and Bangladesh show some increases in food consumption and security, but mixed impacts on health and limited effects on non-food consumption and education. Further evaluation of different program components is needed to identify the most cost-effective elements to scale the model.
Digital Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion in IndiaCGAP
Digital Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion in India outlines key elements for implementing digital cash transfers in India to achieve greater financial inclusion. It recommends establishing a one stop shop model where individuals can access government payments, financial services, and other functions in one location through digital infrastructure and interoperable backend systems. This would provide efficiencies for the government and more convenient access to services for users. The document also stresses the importance of coordination, developing sustainable business models for agents, and addressing issues like connectivity in rural areas.
Professionalising rural water services: a response to the sustainability chal...IRC
The document discusses challenges and strategies around providing sustainable rural water services at scale. It summarizes findings from a multi-country study looking at service delivery models and their drivers. Key findings include that community management is still predominant but trends toward professionalization; a variety of delegated contract models are emerging; and strengthening institutions, monitoring, accountability and national leadership are important for achieving sustainable services.
Triple s ghana presentation @ MOLE XXIII conference 23rd august ,2012IRC
This document summarizes a presentation on a sustainability model for water service delivery in East Gonja District, Ghana. The presentation discusses:
1) The Triple-S initiative, which supports rural water sectors in Ghana and Uganda to develop innovative approaches to improve water services.
2) Baseline findings from East Gonja District which showed low functionality of water points and piped systems, and substandard service levels.
3) The district's response to the findings, which included rehabilitating water systems, developing an action plan to support service authorities and committees, and exploring options to improve water quality and supply.
Broken pumps and pipes: Why the rural water sector has failed to deliver trul...International WaterCentre
- The rural water sector has struggled to deliver sustainable services, with 30-40% of hand pumps in Africa not functioning and 730 million still unserved.
- There has been an overemphasis on expanding coverage through infrastructure building without consideration for long-term operation and maintenance costs, leading to high failure rates.
- A new service delivery approach is needed that focuses on establishing permanent water services through strengthened sector policies, cost planning, oversight, capacity support, and long-term funding commitments rather than just expanding coverage.
The Rural Maintenance Programme (RMP) in Bangladesh evolved over several phases from 1983 to strengthen the capacity of rural women and improve rural road infrastructure. Key aspects of the evolution included expanding coverage of unions, increasing government financial contributions over time, establishing self-help groups for women, and conducting evaluations to improve the program. The RMP's goal was to contribute to long-term economic growth through a cost-effective road maintenance program that improved socioeconomic conditions for destitute women.
Presentation 4.4 Project level methodologies and practicejohnabutterworth
The document discusses two case studies of projects that implemented measures to reduce corruption:
1) The Kecamatan Development Project (KDP) in Indonesia mapped sources of corruption and implemented concrete measures like simplifying financial reporting, direct fund transfers, and independent auditing and monitoring which reduced losses from 30-20%.
2) The Kerala Rural Sanitation Programme in India faced 30-35% malpractice. It developed measures over 5 years like improved information sharing, financial controls, accountability, and training to prevent cartel formation which reduced costs, increased usage from 5% to over 90%, and reduced external subsidies from 80% to 15%.
Presentation 4.4 Project level methodologies and practicejohnabutterworth
The document discusses two case studies of projects that implemented measures to reduce corruption:
1) The Kecamatan Development Project (KDP) in Indonesia reduced corruption by simplifying financial processes, transferring funds directly to village banks, requiring multiple signatures for transactions, and promoting social accountability through public meetings and independent auditing. This reduced losses from 30-20%.
2) The Kerala Rural Sanitation Programme in India faced 30-35% losses due to widespread malpractices. It developed measures over 5 years like improving transparency, installing financial controls, training masons, competitive bidding, and community oversight which reduced costs and improved outcomes like consistent toilet use.
Similar to Global learninginsustainabledrinkingwater j_delaharpe (20)
Session Building from WASH to IWRM - photo galleryIRC
On 15 October 2023, by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and IRC organised a panel session titled Building WASH into IWRM at the 9th International Conference on Water and Flood Management (ICWFM 2023).
The session drew examples from three NGO-led diverse WASH programmes intervening in different regions and different administrative settings of Bangladesh. The three NGOs that shared their programme experiences were BRAC, SNV and the Max Foundation.
Learn more
https://www.ircwash.org/blog/wash-crucial-component-iwrm
The document summarizes photos taken in 2023 of the sewage plant in Norton, Zimbabwe. The plant was originally constructed in the 1950s but had fallen into disrepair by 2017. It underwent refurbishment with support from Welthungerhilfe to repair damaged infrastructure like leaking sewage pipes. The conventional treatment plant includes intake works, primary clarifiers, trickling filters, humus tanks, and sludge drying beds. While parts of the system have been repaired, the partially treated sewage still flows directly to nearby farms from the holding ponds.
Climate Resilient Water Safety Plan ImplementationIRC
The Water Development Commission shared the experience with the Climate Resilient Water Safety Plan (CR WSP) implementation approach in Ethiopia during a learning workshop. This workshop was held in Adama, Ethiopia, on 23 September 2021.
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Presentation given by the Ethiopian Water Development Commission during the Climate Resilient WASH workshop in Adama, Ethiopia. This workshop was held on 23 September 2021.
The document summarizes ways that households in sub-Saharan Africa develop self-supplied water sources through methods like wells, rainwater harvesting, and springs. It discusses how households incrementally improve their water systems over time. It also outlines three ways self-supply can be supported: 1) through technical advisory services and guidelines, 2) by strengthening the private sector, and 3) with policies and budgets to aid households in construction and supply improvement. The document promotes a new book on self-supply and filling gaps in public water provision.
Self-supply refers to households taking responsibility for developing their own water sources through various methods like digging wells, collecting rainwater, or protecting springs. This document outlines the key reasons households pursue self-supply due to issues with public water systems like long wait times. It then describes common self-supply methods in Sub-Saharan Africa like family wells and rainwater harvesting. The document emphasizes that self-supply should be supported through technical advice, private sector development, and policies that help households improve their water sources over time.
This short document encourages the reader to take a second to think about how they can help transform billions of lives but provides no other context or details. It is unclear from the text alone what specific actions or causes the reader is being asked to consider to help transform lives at a global scale.
Webinar : Adapting your advocacy to COVID-19 health crisisIRC
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing development programmes to rapidly readjust their advocacy strategy to support local or national governments in their emergency planning. The Watershed empowering citizens programme organised a webinar attended by over 60 participants on 15 April 2020, to discuss and learn about: ways to adapt advocacy approaches in time of COVID-19; practical examples of shifting activities at national and local levels; ways to reach your target audience while social distancing; ways to adapt your messaging, keeping Watershed priorities through the lens of COVID-19.
This report includes the webinar Powerpoint presentations and some recommendations based on the Q&A session. The titles and authors of the presentations are: "Why is strong advocacy essential during a crisis?" by Evita Rosenberg (IRC); "Watershed Bangladesh : adapting advocacy approaches during COVID 19 outbreak" by Ranjan Kumar Ghose (WaterAid Bangladesh); and "Adapting advocacy approaches in Kenya "by Patrick Mwanzia (Simavi Kenya).
Novel partnership between NWSC and Kabarole District to provide safe water to...IRC
Pius Mugabi of the Kabarole District Local Government, Martin Watsisi and Angela Huston of IRC and Denis Maramuzi, Area Manager of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Fort Portal, Kabarole worked together on preparing a presentation for the 20th AfWA International Congress and Exhibition in Uganda.
Their presentation focused on a new partnership between NWSC and Kabarole District to extend NWSC’s piped network to provide safe water to communities in the hard-to-reach Kabende sub county. This novel public-public partnership is part of the increasing trend of rural utilisation. NWSC is extending into more small towns and rural growth centres with a broadened mandate and through the SCAP100 Programme will reach 12,000 new villages during 2017-2020.
Interested in more information on the case of Kabende sub county in Kabarole district and the progress so far? Check the presentation slides.
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) Conflict sensitivity support and tools. Referenced in the IRC WASH debate "Sustainable WASH service delivery and local WRM in fragile states: how far can you get?" which took place 20 November 2019 in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Watershed Mali : strengthening civil society for sustainable WASH-IWRM in MaliIRC
The political crisis and insecurity existing in Mali since 2012 has had a negative impact on the country’s water and sanitation sector. Normative frameworks are non-existent or unknown, polices and laws are not enforced, water quality is hardly monitored and budget commitments are unclear. The lack of knowledge about the human rights to water and sanitation has led to poor accountability, and civil society organisations (CSOs) lack capacity to advocate and lobby for better services.
Within the above context, the Watershed empowering citizens Mali country programme focuses on two main issues: (1) water quality and waste management and (2) universal access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. So far the programme has been able to enhance the capacities, credibility and audience of water and sanitation CSOs, including the Alliance Citoyenne Pour l’Eau et l’Assainissement (ACEA-Mali). A multi-stakeholder forum has been established and coalitions of CSOs, local government and media have been strengthened, which can mobilise stakeholders, including Parliament.
Because there enough water and faecal sludge disposal is not seen as a problem in rural areas, there is little incentive to integrate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and water resources management (WRM). Watershed is trying to stimulate integration by developing a handbook and guideline in combination with collaboration with CSO networks and donor-funded programmes.
Issues emerging from the Watershed Mali programme include how CSOs can influence decision makers to increase national WASH budget allocations infragile states, how to harmonise the institutional and legal frameworks of the WASH and WRM sectors, how to encourage innovation.
A joint presentation by Afou Chantal Bengaly (Wetlands International) and Ele Jan Saaf (SaafConsult) at the WASH Debate "Sustainable WASH service delivery and local WRM in fragile states: how far can you get?", in The Hague, the Netherlands on 20 November 2019.
WASH systems strengthening in the Central African RepublicIRC
Water for Good (WFG) works exclusively in the Central African Republic (CAR), a country facing extreme economic fragility. The road blocks set up by the non-state armed groups, which control nearly 80% of the territory, have a significant impact on the country's economy. WFG has been operating in the CAR since 2004, initially as a borehole drilling organisation, and shortly thereafter, as a handpump maintenance service provider. It has created a circuit rider approach for preventative maintenance and uses an electronic reporting system.
After joining Agenda for Change in 2017, WFG opted to adopt IRC's systems approach to go beyond their preventative maintenance programme and work towards universal, sustainable access. WFG opted to pilot a district-wide approach in Mambéré-Kadéi, while maintaining periodic preventative maintenance in other prefectures. In the pilot area, WFG focused on the following system blocking blocks: infrastructure, monitoring, finance, planning and institutions. At the same time it is helping to build up regional capacity for systems strengthening.
In conclusion, WFG believes it is possible to strengthen systems in fragile states, thanks to their organisation's long-term presence in CAR, their ability to plug short-term projects into the larger roadmap, and their ability to work with systems champions. The intention is not to build parallel systems, but to champion a roadmap that is both supported by all WASH stakeholders and adequately funded.
Presentation by David De Armey, Director of International Partnerships, Water for Good at the WASH Debate "Sustainable WASH service delivery and local WRM in fragile states: how far can you get?", in The Hague, the Netherlands on 20 November 2019.
Finding the flow in fragile contexts : IWRM in MaliIRC
What has World Waternet learned by implementing an integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach in Mali? In the Blue Deal Dji Don project, World Waternet supports the Agence Nationale de Gestion des Stations d’Épuration du Mali (ANGESEM) to improve wastewater management. Presentation by Annette Rozendaal-Morón, World Waternet at the WASH Debate "Sustainable WASH service delivery and local WRM in fragile states: how far can you get?", in The Hague, the Netherlands on 20 November 2019.
This presentation by Ambrose Kibuuka is a part of IRC’s in-house “What’s for Lunch series”, It reviews progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sanitation and hygiene, sector trends focusing on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and sanitation marketing, and how rich nations achieved universal access to sanitation. It also briefly looks at WASH linkages with climate change, stunting, nutrition, and gender and social inclusion. The presentation concludes that unsafely managed sanitation, especially in rural areas, remains a challenge in developing countries as a result of population growth, climate change and the lack of funding for on-site sanitation and faecal sludge removal. Systems strengthening (in particular access to financing) and strong public commitment are required to achieve universal access to sanitation by 2030. The presentation includes a list of 21 references.
Social accountability : civil society and the human rights to water and sanit...IRC
The Watershed programme supports civil society organisations (CSOs) both on normative content (and claiming their rights if not yet met) as well as supporting CSOs to engage in the procedural part/principles of human rights to water and sanitation. The social accountability approach used by Watershed is based on the principles of access to information, non-discrimination, accountability and participation. The role of CSOs includes holding government to account for their obligation to ensure that everyone’s human rights are fulfilled, protected and respected. For this Watershed uses the Social Accountability Model developed by Water Witness International. Conclusions and reflection are provided on how this model has been used in Kenya and Bangladesh. Presentation by Esther de Vreede, Simavi, at the WASH Debate “Dialogue and dissent: Looking at the role of civil society in achieving SDG 6 by 2030”, in The Hague, the Netherlands on 26 June 2019.
Wash Debates: Looking at the role of civil society in achieving SDG 6 by 2030IRC
What can civil society organisations do to advance progress towards SDG 6? What are the major obstacles that impede their efforts and more importantly, how can they be overcome?
Images from the IRC WASH Debates series, which took place 26 June 2019 in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The end of the poldermodel? : the role of dissent in Dutch international wate...IRC
The Dutch NGO Both Ends is involved in two Strategic Partnerships for Dialogue & Dissent funded by the Netherlands government. One of them, the Fair Green & Global (FGG) Alliance, support capacity building of civil society organisations (CSOs) to effectively voice their views and hold policymakers and companies to account. The role of dissent is seen to contribute towards equality, equity and justice. The lessons learned by the FGG Alliance to address the concerns of Indonesian CSOs regarding land reclamations in Jakarta Bay Masterplan will be taken up to support CSO involvement in the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Masterplan in the Philippines. The challenges and opportunities for CSO involvement in Dutch-funded interventions in developing countries are briefly outlined. Presentation by Giacomo Galli at the WASH Debate “Dialogue and dissent: Looking at the role of civil society in achieving SDG 6 by 2030”, in The Hague, the Netherlands on 26 June 2019.
Voice for Change Partnership : roles of CSOs in achieving SDG6IRC
The Voice for Change Partnership (V4CP) programme is a capacity development programme for civil society organizations (CSOs) in six countries across four areas including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). VCP is a partnership between DGIS, SNV, IFPRI (International Food Policy and Research Institute) and CSOs. The capacity development activities focus on evidence creation and dissemination, and evidence-based advocacy. In Kenya, the V4CP WASH component supports CSO advocacy for improved stakeholder participation and coordination, increased budget allocation, and influencing policy review and development. CSOs used evidence from GIS mapping and the water testing to convince county governments to take action to improve sanitation. The data collected was also used to advocate for increased sanitation investment participatory budgeting. The presentation concludes with challenges and lessons learnt from the Kenya the V4CP WASH component. Presented at the WASH Debate “Dialogue and dissent: Looking at the role of civil society in achieving SDG 6 by 2030”, in The Hague, the Netherlands on 26 June 2019.
Voice for Change Partnership : roles of CSOs in achieving SDG6
Global learninginsustainabledrinkingwater j_delaharpe
1. Global learning in Sustainable
drinking water services at scale –
everyone forever
Jean de la Harpe
11 March 2013
Roundtable 13 March
2013 New Delhi
3. Global achievements
• From 1990 to 2010 over 2 billion people
gained access to improved water sources
• 1.8 billion people gained access to improved
sanitation facilities
• Progress over last 20 years has been in the
context of rapid population growth
4. India – massive progress
India 522
million
Number of people who gained access to improved drinking water
sources from 1990 to 2010 by MDG region (millions)
5. But
Over 780 million people
are still without access to
improved sources of
drinking water
If current trends continue,
by 2015, 605 million
people will be without an
improved drinking water
source
6. And the ‘job is far from
finished’
• Many still lack safe drinking water
• Services are not sustainable
• High rates of non-functionality
and slippage
• Lack of adequate institutional
arrangements
• Current JMP indicators do not
address the safety, reliability and
sustainability of drinking water
supply
7. Sustainability risks
GLAAS 2012 (74 developing countries)
• A chronic lack of technicians and skilled labour
• Insufficient staff to operate and maintain drinking-water
infrastructure
• Inadequate funding for operation and maintenance
• One in three countries highlighted insufficient revenues
to cover operating costs
• Only 7% of external support is directed at maintaining
services
All these factors put sustainability of water systems at
risk in many countries
8. IRC Triple-S study of rural water sectors
13 countries with range of sector reforms, aid dependency
and progress in decentralisation
Analysis of trends found common opportunities and
barriers to service delivery
9. Findings of the study - sector development
• Low coverage levels ~ 30 – 40%
Group 1 • Focus on infrastructure Ethiopia
countries • Reliance on voluntary community management Mozambique
• Move towards scaled up programming
• Coverage ~ 50 - 70% and expanding Honduras,
Group 2 • Tension between coverage and ‘slippage’ Colombia,
• Trend to sector capacity building Ghana, Burkina
countries • Limited budgets and increasing demand for Faso and
higher service levels Uganda
• Coverage of 75 – 85% + India (Gujurat),
Group 3 • Investment in sector capacity building Thailand, USA,
• Addressing sustainability challenges and long- Sri Lanka,
countries term capital replacement South Africa
• Reaching last 10 – 15% remains a challenge
10. Findings of study
Incomplete decentralisation and sector reform
• In many cases decentralisation has been partial
• Local government capacity remains weak
• Lack of clear roles and responsibilities
• Limited fiscal decentralisation
• Well defined policies, but lack implementation – ‘policy to
practice gap’
• Aid dependency has led to fragmented approaches
• Insufficient support to the local level
…. Latest GLAAS report confirms these findings
11. • 90% of responding countries
indicated that decentralisation
has taken place to lower levels …
• But less than 40% have carried
out meaningful fiscal
decentralisation
• Only 40% have sufficient
maintenance staff
• In rural sector less than 20% have
sufficient maintenance staff
12. Findings: community management challenges
Management models
Burkina Faso
Mozambque
Honduras
Colombia
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Ethiopia
S. Africa
Uganda
Ghana
Benin
India
USA
Rural coverage (%); JMP, 2010 29 26 72 64 74 69 84 77 88 98 73 78 94
Community-based management P P P P P P P P P P P P P
Community management remains the Examples professionalising
dominant approach in many countries community management
for rural areas
Out-sourcing of specific
Whilst there are moves to functions: Honduras, Sri
professionalise community Lanka
management ….. there are still Applying good business
significant problems in achieving practices: Colombia
sustainable service provision within Use of support agents: South
the model Africa
13. Poor service
Low tariff
Service failure collection
Water losses and
Staff high usage drive
demotivated up costs
Service provider Maintenance
cannot pay all the postponed
costs
Efficiency Service
deteriorates deteriorates
Customers less
further
willing to pay
14. Weak policy
Poor service Incomplete
decentralisation
Poor citizen/
Service failure is Lack of sector
customer relations also about poor coordination
governance at
Poor planning
Lack of the local level
accountability
Focus on projects
instead of services
No service
provider contracts
Budgets don’t
Weak authority reflect life cycle
capacity costs
15. Big gap is support at
the local level
Both local government (such
as the district level) in its Water service
capacity as the service authority (WSA)
authority
and local water service
providers require support
Water service
provider (WSP)
16. Harmonisation and
Policy support Sector
alignment
collaboration
National
National planning support Build sector capacity
support
Technical District level Budgeting real costs
Operational development
training (tariff structure)
budgeting planning
Service Service Bylaws and
Asset regulatory functions
management provision authority
(O&M)
support support to local Infrastructure
government development
Billing Establish post
system construction Life cycle Service provision
support costing conditions & contracts
Operational Monitoring and
planning Customer care
and awareness reporting
17. Service provision (post construction)
support – 5 Ms
Community based service providers require on-going
support
• Mentoring support
• Management support (budgeting, financial
and operational planning, financial
management, asset management, human
resource issues)
• Monitoring
• Major maintenance support
• Mobilisation and on-going training
18. Findings: Financing gap
Public sector
Costs of capital
Capital financing or external
expenditure
aid transfers
Operational and Assumed to be
minor
Expenditure on maintenance community
indirect support expenditure responsibility
(tariffs)
Capital
maintenance
Expenditure on
expenditure
direct support
Unclear who finances support -
these costs are consistently
under-funded
19. Consequences of the financing gap
• Insufficient
maintenance
• Deteriorating services
• Weak institutions
• Services not being
extended to those
without access
• The gap impacts on the
ability of the entire
sector to deliver
sustainable services
20. Closing the Gap – 3 sources of revenue
• Ultimately there are only three sources of revenue to
help close the financing gap. The 3Ts:
– Tariffs
– Taxes, and
– Transfers (from national government)
• Loans and bonds will need to be paid back and mainly
serve to “bridge the gap”
Source: OECD
21. Full cost recovery from
tariffs- unrealistic in rural
areas
In reality rural water tariffs
often barely cover
operational expenditure costs
What does this mean for
subsidies?
South African example …
22. South Africa
Massive investment in
the water sector
With major grants to
support scaling up AND
sustainable service
provision
- Infrastructure grant
- Operational grant
- Institutional grant
23. South Africa
Three major grants to support sustainable scaling up
Municipal Capacity Equitable Share
Infrastructure Building Grant (ES)
Grant (MIG) (CBG)
Infrastructure Institutions Service provision
(capital (capacity building (operational grant)
projects) initiatives)
Expand to un- Increase municipal Subsidy for the provision
served poor capacity of services for the poor
24. Equitable Share
• Subsidy for funding operating costs
• Unconditional transfer from national to local
government, based on the levels of poverty within
the particular municipal area
• Covers approximately 16% of total operating costs -
the majority costs are covered through user tariffs
79% 5% 16%
User charges
Conditional grants
Equitable Share
Sources of water services operating revenue – national profile
25. Despite financial resources – we face increasing
maintenance backlogs
Sector
Investment
The
unserved
what is happening to our investment? 25
27. 1. Develop a clear water and sanitation policy and
legislation
Sector vision, goals and targets
Institutional framework
Financial framework
Planning framework
National norms and standards (levels of service)
Regulatory framework
Support and monitoring framework
Implementing the Strategic Framework
28. 2. Ensure effective financing strategies
Sustainability is about increasing investment in the sector –
investment framework
Efficient use of resources and financial predictability
Multi-year plans based on the targets and sufficient
recurrent income to cover operations and maintenance
Life cycle costing
Where tariffs are insufficient, other sources of revenue
need to be found to close the gap
29. 3. Plan to address targets – (everyone) AND for sustainability
(forever)
Disaggregate targets for the local level and develop local level
sector plans
- where are the un-served?
- what can they afford for water?
- what are the most appropriate
technologies?
- what levels of service?
- what are the costs?
- who will be responsible for providing
the services and how ?
- how will sustainability be ensured?
- what support is needed?
30. 4. Sector collaboration
Build a strong sector based on Build the
collaboration – between sector
appropriate Ministries (horizontal)
and local government (vertical)
Ensure a common approach Collaboration
working towards a single sector
vision, goals and targets
One policy, one investment plan Common
and one programme for the sector approach
– where everyone is working to
common objectives
Strengthen the development of One plan
robust national plans for WASH
service provision
31. 5. Effective decentralisation
Decentralisation must be properly supported
Full fiscal decentralisation must accompany decentralisation
of functions
Local government in the driving seat
But does local government have the capacity for
May be necessary to look at
infrastructure development and service provision?
other solutions for
implementing capital
programmes …
32. 6. The right institutional arrangements
Need a focus on service provision functions: ongoing
operations and maintenance, revenue collection, asset
management, customer relations
Who is going to be responsible for provision?
What can partnerships offer?
Challenge to find the best mix of sector capacity -
public, private, NGOs, CBOs, or a combination
Too often communities are left to manage their
schemes with little or no support and ultimately the
service fails – support services are essential (5Ms)
33. 7. The right support at the right time
• Develop a support strategy as part of sector
collaboration
• Identify support needs, particularly at the local level
• Implement support programmes for local governance
and for service provision
• Emphasis on asset management
• Put in place a good monitoring system with feedback
• Ensure lesson and knowledge sharing
• Provide for mentoring and institutional support
• Regulate!
34. 8. Always address the context
• Build on existing institutions
There is no ‘universal best
• Don’t mimic what works best in practice’ approach to governance
other countries – rather learn
from successes and find what for development
works best in the given context
• Find a ‘best fit’ approach within There are no institutional
the context as opposed to ‘best templates that are valid
practices’ (which tend to be everywhere and for all stages in a
relevant to other contexts)
country’s development
• Facilitate local problem solving
• Learn from everyone
• Copy no-one
35. We need to focus on maintaining assets to
sustain services – this is as important as
focussing on new infrastructure
Beyond 2015, achieving new drinking
water targets will require not only a vast
allocation of resources, but also
- concerted efforts to deliver sustainable
service provision
- major focus on local government water
services capacity
36. Sustainability through the full life cycle
From policy to
ongoing services
Policy Planning Financing Implementation Service Provision
(infrastructure (sustainable
development) services)
37. Thank you
Jean de la Harpe
delaharpe@irc.nl
37
Editor's Notes
If following cost reductions a financing gap still persists, there are only three ultimate sources of revenue that can help to close this gap, the 3Ts:Tariffs and other user chargesTax-based subsidies, from central, regional or local governmentsTransfers from other countries, such as ODA or private forms of charityOECD and developing countries are choosing very different ways of financing their water sectors, going from almost fully tariff financing (eg France) to almost entirely tax-based financing (eg Egypt or Ireland (not on figure)). ODA can play a major role in some of the poorest countries, eg Mozambique (see figure). At the end of the day, what matters is that there is a predictable and sustainable flow of revenue. However, each of the 3Ts provides a different type of incentive to users, operators and financiers, and this should be taken into account when deciding about the mix of the Ts.If revenue from the 3Ts is sufficient to ensure financial sustainability, this will then allow to access loans and bonds, which are indispensable to cope with the large up-front investment costs that are typical of the water sector. Loans and bonds need to be repaid, however, and therefore mainly serve to bridge the gap, rather than helping to close it.
Have to address sustainbiloity through the full life cycle of a service ..