Your search found 43 records
1 Bhattarai, B.; Upadhyaya, R.; Neupane, K. R.; Devkota, K.; Maskey, G.; Shrestha, S.; Mainali, B.; Ojha, H. 2021. Gender inequality in urban water governance: continuity and change in two towns of Nepal. World Water Policy, 7(1):30-51. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12052]
Water governance ; Urban areas ; Gender equality ; Water supply ; Drinking water ; Water insecurity ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Gender-transformative approaches ; Women ; Inclusion ; Participation ; Awareness ; Decision making ; Water management ; Water policies ; Households ; Livelihoods ; Socioeconomic environment ; Case studies / Nepal / Kathmandu / Dhulikhel / Dharan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050516)
Gender-based inequality has long been recognized as a challenge in water governance and urban development. Women do most of the water collection-related tasks in the majority of low-income country’s urban areas, as they do in rural areas for drinking, household consumption, kitchen gardening, and farming. However, their voice is rarely heard in water governance. When climate change exacerbates water scarcity, it becomes harder for people to secure water with more pronounced effects on women. Drawing on the narratives of men and women involved in water management practices and also the views of the stakeholders who are part of water resource management in two towns in Nepal, this paper demonstrates emerging forms of gender inequality concerning access to and control over water resources, as well as associated services such as sanitation. We found that women’s voice in water governance is systematically excluded, and such gender-based disadvantage intersects with economic disadvantage as women in low-income poor urban settlements are experiencing additional difficulty in accessing water and sanitation services. Gender inequity persists in the urban water sector, and of course the wider social structures, despite some progressive policy changes in recent years, such as the 30% quota reserved for women in local-level water management bodies in Nepal. The paper concludes that tackling gender inequity in water management requires a transformative approach that seriously takes into account women’s voice, critical awareness, and open deliberation over the causes and consequences of the current approaches and practices. Moreover, gender-inclusive outcomes on water management are linked to changes in areas outside of the water sector, such as property ownership structures that constrain or enable women’s access to water and related services.
2 Kelly, E.; Cronk, R.; Fisher, M.; Bartram, J. 2021. Sanitary inspection, microbial water quality analysis, and water safety in handpumps in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. npj Clean Water, 4:3. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-020-00093-z]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Water quality ; Biological contamination ; Microbiological analysis ; Risk factors ; Escherichia coli ; Drinking water ; Water supply ; Boreholes ; Manual pumps ; Rural areas ; Models / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050530)
(0.61 MB) (628 KB)
In sub-Saharan Africa, over half of the population is exposed to contaminated drinking water. The WHO recommends both sanitary inspection and water quality analysis to assess the risk of water source contamination, but the relationship between these tools is poorly understood. We explore the relationship between sanitary inspection and water quality analysis using data from 1028 boreholes with handpumps in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Sanitary inspection scores and E. coli occurrence were compared using the models described in published literature, and an alternative model that better reflects causal pathways of contamination. In the alternative model, sanitary risk factors were categorized as contamination sources, carriers, or barrier breakdowns, and the relationships between risk factor combinations and E. coli occurrence were assessed. We found no associations between sanitary risk score and E. coli occurrence using either the established or alternative model. These results confirm that sanitary inspections and microbial analyses convey distinct information, and perfect correlation is neither expected nor desired. The alternative model demonstrated a slightly better model fit than most established models, and the model fit further improved when the occurrence of rainfall in the past two days was added as a carrier. We recommend that: implementers train water system operators to conduct sanitary inspection; and researchers work to improve our understanding of the effect of individual sanitary risk factors, as well as incorporate contextual data into their assessments of sanitary inspection and water quality.
3 Dhungana, H.; Clement, F.; Otto, B.; Das, B. 2021. Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 29p. (IWMI Research Report 179) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.211]
Social participation ; Accountability ; Water supply ; Budgeting ; Auditing ; Corruption ; Transparency ; Governance ; Participatory approaches ; Citizen participation ; Water resources ; Drinking water ; Water allocation ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Development aid ; Stakeholders ; Nongovernmental organizations ; Water user associations ; Political institutions ; Institutional reform ; Public services ; Legislation ; Women ; Inclusion ; Households ; Awareness ; Rural communities ; Case studies / Nepal / Dailekh / Achham / Goganpani Village Development Committee / Mastabandali Village Development Committee / Sanakanda Scheme / Kalikhola Bandalimadu Scheme
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H050606)
(1.76 MB)
Enhancing accountability has become an important objective of the governance reforms over the past two decades. Yet, only a few studies have explored the use of social accountability tools in the water sector in particular. This report aims to fill this gap, based on a case study of a donor-funded water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program in Nepal. We document and analyze the effects of two types of social accountability tools implemented by the program: public hearings and social audits. We examined how these tools have contributed to increased transparency, participation, voice and accountability, and in turn discuss their potential to reduce corruption. We relied on qualitative methods to collect data in two case study water supply schemes in two districts of Nepal. The study found that the social accountability tools provided a platform for water users to participate and deliberate on issues related to the execution of WASH schemes. However, the scope of accountability narrowly focused on the integrity of the water user committees but did not provide the political resources and means for communities to hold funding and implementing agencies accountable. Furthermore, attention to budget management has not provided space to address environmental and social justice issues related to payment of wages, access to water and decision-making processes in the design of the water scheme and water allocation. Findings from the study also indicate that the concept of deliberation and downward accountability, as envisioned in international development discourses, does not necessarily match with local power relationships and local cultural norms.
4 Anthonj, C. 2021. Contextualizing linkages between water security and global health in Africa, Asia and Europe. Geography matters in research, policy and practice. Water Security, 13:100093. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasec.2021.100093]
Water security ; Public health ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Monitoring ; Policies ; Extreme weather events ; Flooding ; Drinking water ; Water quality ; Infectious diseases ; Health hazards ; Waste management ; Wetlands ; Infrastructure ; Communities ; Stakeholders / Africa / Asia / Europe / Small Island Developing States / Kenya / Namibia / Nigeria
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050600)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468312421000109/pdfft?md5=a4b1165e55c3395137ed9918c1393cb6&pid=1-s2.0-S2468312421000109-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050600.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050600.pdf
(3.36 MB) (3.36 MB)
The linkages between water security and global health vary in space and time. Just like water connects every aspect of life, geography relates everything to everything else. Therefore, in order to address challenges at the interface of water security and global health, the use and application of medical geography, a sub-discipline of geography, is helpful in research, policy and practice.
Using different water security pathway classifications (diminished water supply or quality, increased water demand, and extreme flood events) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and targets as a frame, this paper looks at water and health challenges from different angles and from a holistic perspective, while contextualizing them. Drawing on five practical examples, including water-related infectious disease exposure in watersheds in semi-arid Kenya, health system response in floodplains in Namibia, public health implications in a protracted emergency setting in arid Northeast Nigeria, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) monitoring in households, schools and healthcare facilities in Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific, and WASH-related challenges and disease exposures among marginalized ethnic minority populations in Europe, the applicability and usefulness of geography contextualizations in research, policy-makers and practitioners is presented. Moreover, cross-cutting topics and contextualizations, beyond water security and global health, including climate- and weather-related extreme events, inequality, health- and water-related education, risk perceptions and behaviour, and the cultural context, are highlighted to showcase the value of applying medical geography in understanding the key drivers, barriers and bottlenecks in complex situations; recommending actionable and contextualized measures to address these challenges; directing programming and interventions; and informing policy-making to tackle and solve these challenges.
Using different water security pathway classifications (diminished water supply or quality, increased water demand, and extreme flood events) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and targets as a frame, this paper looks at water and health challenges from different angles and from a holistic perspective, while contextualizing them. Drawing on five practical examples, including water-related infectious disease exposure in watersheds in semi-arid Kenya, health system response in floodplains in Namibia, public health implications in a protracted emergency setting in arid Northeast Nigeria, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) monitoring in households, schools and healthcare facilities in Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific, and WASH-related challenges and disease exposures among marginalized ethnic minority populations in Europe, the applicability and usefulness of geography contextualizations in research, policy-makers and practitioners is presented. Moreover, cross-cutting topics and contextualizations, beyond water security and global health, including climate- and weather-related extreme events, inequality, health- and water-related education, risk perceptions and behaviour, and the cultural context, are highlighted to showcase the value of applying medical geography in understanding the key drivers, barriers and bottlenecks in complex situations; recommending actionable and contextualized measures to address these challenges; directing programming and interventions; and informing policy-making to tackle and solve these challenges.
5 Dickin, S.; Segnestam, L.; Dakoure, M. S. 2021. Women’s vulnerability to climate-related risks to household water security in Centre-East, Burkina Faso. Climate and Development, 13(5):443-453. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2020.1790335]
Water security ; Households ; Gender ; Women ; Climate change ; Vulnerability ; Drinking water ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Adaptation ; Risk reduction ; Water availability ; Boreholes ; Communities ; Villages ; Public health ; Case studies / West Africa / Burkina Faso / Nouaho Sub-Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050623)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17565529.2020.1790335
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050623.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050623.pdf
(1.56 MB) (1.56 MB)
Variable climate conditions, resulting in periods of water scarcity and longer dry spells, or intense rainfall events, have serious implications for water and sanitation services. Climate change threatens to exacerbate these hazards, increasing risks to household water security, and associated impacts on health, wellbeing and livelihoods. These risks are not evenly distributed across individuals and communities, and there is a particular need to understand women’s vulnerabilities and responses to these risks due to disproportionate impacts of poor water and sanitation conditions. This study used mixed-methods data collection to assess how vulnerabilities to climate-related risks to household water security are produced and vary among women in the Centre-East region, Burkina Faso, as well as capacities to respond. Gendered water-related roles and norms were found to drive vulnerabilities for women in the case study site particularly related to increasingly inadequate water availability during the dry season. Other social differences such as Mossi and Peul ethnicity which influence ways of using water, also contributed to women’s differential vulnerability and capacities to respond. These findings show there is a need to consider how the development of ‘climate resilient’ water and sanitation services take social drivers of vulnerability into account.
6 Pugel, K.; Javernick-Will, A.; Peabody, S.; Nyaga, C.; Mussa, M.; Mekonta, L.; Dimtse, D.; Watsisi, M.; Buhungiro, E.; Mulatu, T.; Annis, J.; Jordan, E.; Sandifer, E.; Linden, K. 2021. Pathways for collaboratively strengthening water and sanitation systems. Science of the Total Environment, 802:149854. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149854]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Collaboration ; State intervention ; Local Government ; Collective action ; Funding ; Stakeholders ; Political aspects ; Comparative analysis / East Africa / Uganda / Kenya / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050638)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721049299/pdfft?md5=63c0293251ab3665c1fca65638b7463d&pid=1-s2.0-S0048969721049299-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050638.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050638.pdf
(1.32 MB) (1.32 MB)
Collaborative approaches are seen as a promising way to strengthen Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) service delivery systems when challenges exceed the mandates and capabilities of any single entity. While collaborative approaches are well studied in high-income country contexts, current understanding of their application to international development contexts is limited. This paper uses fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to assess what conditions and pathways drove or impeded progress within eleven collaborative approaches for WASH service delivery in Eastern Africa. Evidence supported three main findings: (1) Government uptake of recommendations is necessary for progress but cannot be guaranteed solely by government participation in the collaboration, (2) different forms of problem identification are possible; problem scopes are often predefined to align with funders and partner government agendas, but flexible scopes that foster collective problem identification can reap benefits, and (3) hub convening power can be critical and convening power can be gained in different ways. Political dynamics, shifting priorities, and turnover undermine collaborative efforts, but collaborative approaches can still make progress in spite of turnover if funds are available for implementation of activities (i.e. in addition to funds for meetings and hub roles) and program implementers either facilitate collective problem identification or establish a hub with convening power. Yet even these tactics are vulnerable to instability, thus in highly unstable contexts, stakeholders and funders should be realistic from the outset about what they may be able to achieve. Building on existing theories of collaborative approaches, this work revealed that there is no single best design for collaborative approaches in WASH, rather, core elements worked together in different ways depending on the context.
7 Balasubramanya, Soumya; Stifel, David; Alvi, M.; Ringler, C. 2022. The role of social identity in improving access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health services: evidence from Nepal. Development Policy Review, 40(4):e12588. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12588]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Social status ; Inclusion ; Drinking water ; Hand washing ; Public health ; Health services ; Toilets ; Households ; Economic indicators / Nepal
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050673)
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dpr.12588
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050673.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050673.pdf
(0.47 MB) (484 KB)
Motivation: COVID-19 has revived focus on improving equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health services in developing countries. Most public programming tends to rely on economic indicators to identify and target vulnerable groups. Can expanded targeting criteria that include social status help to improve not only targeting, but also equity in access to WASH and health services?
Purpose: This paper assesses the role of social identity in mediating access to WASH and health services, controlling for economic disadvantages such as household wealth, income sources and assets.
Methods and approach: We use regression analysis applied to the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to estimate the relationships between social identity and access to WASH and health services, controlling for wealth (using wealth index quantiles), and remittances (using indicator variables for domestic and international remittances).
Findings: We find that differences in access are mediated in large part by caste, and religious and ethnic identity, especially in rural areas; suggesting that the supply of such services is lower for historically disadvantaged communities. In addition, communities with lowest access are not necessarily the most economically disadvantaged, indicating that relying solely on traditional economic indicators to target programs and interventions may not be sufficient to improve equity in access to public health services.
Policy implications: The results make a case for broadening indicators beyond the economic criteria for improving targeting of public funds for more inclusive development.
Purpose: This paper assesses the role of social identity in mediating access to WASH and health services, controlling for economic disadvantages such as household wealth, income sources and assets.
Methods and approach: We use regression analysis applied to the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to estimate the relationships between social identity and access to WASH and health services, controlling for wealth (using wealth index quantiles), and remittances (using indicator variables for domestic and international remittances).
Findings: We find that differences in access are mediated in large part by caste, and religious and ethnic identity, especially in rural areas; suggesting that the supply of such services is lower for historically disadvantaged communities. In addition, communities with lowest access are not necessarily the most economically disadvantaged, indicating that relying solely on traditional economic indicators to target programs and interventions may not be sufficient to improve equity in access to public health services.
Policy implications: The results make a case for broadening indicators beyond the economic criteria for improving targeting of public funds for more inclusive development.
8 Howard, G.; Nijhawan, A.; Flint, A.; Baidya, M.; Pregnolato, M.; Ghimire, A.; Poudel, M.; Lo, E.; Sharma, S.; Mengustu, B.; Ayele, D. M.; Geremew, A.; Wondim, T. 2021. The how tough is WASH framework for assessing the climate resilience of water and sanitation. npj Clean Water, 4:39. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-021-00130-5]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Frameworks ; Climate change ; Resilience ; Water supply ; Supply chains ; Infrastructure ; Communities ; Institutions ; Decision making ; Local government ; Indicators ; Flooding ; Risk ; Catchment areas / Nepal / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050682)
(0.70 MB) (716 KB)
Climate change presents a major threat to water and sanitation services. There is an urgent need to understand and improve resilience, particularly in rural communities and small towns in low- and middle-income countries that already struggle to provide universal access to services and face increasing threats from climate change. To date, there is a lack of a simple framework to assess the resilience of water and sanitation services which hinders the development of strategies to improve services. An interdisciplinary team of engineers and environmental and social scientists were brought together to investigate the development of a resilience measurement framework for use in low- and middle-income countries. Six domains of interest were identified based on a literature review, expert opinion, and limited field assessments in two countries. A scoring system using a Likert scale is proposed to assess the resilience of services and allow analysis at local and national levels to support improvements in individual supplies, identifying systematic faults, and support prioritisation for action. This is a simple, multi-dimensional framework for assessing the resilience of rural and small-town water and sanitation services in LMICs. The framework is being further tested in Nepal and Ethiopia and future results will be reported on its application.
9 Sarkar, S. K.; Bharat, G. K. 2021. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in water and sanitation sectors in India. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 11(5):693-705. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2021.002]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Drinking water ; Policies ; Climate change ; Economic development ; Public health ; Water supply ; Households ; Toilets ; Defaecation ; Faecal sludge / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050700)
https://iwaponline.com/washdev/article-pdf/11/5/693/937634/washdev0110693.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050700.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050700.pdf
(0.38 MB) (384 KB)
India, with over 1.37 billion population and housing one-sixth of the world's inhabitants, has a significant role to play in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper analyses the policies and programmes of the Government of India, towards the achievement of Targets 6.1 and 6.2 of SDG-6 that focus on safe drinking water and sanitation. The alignment of the policies and programmes is discussed in correlation of the output, outcome, and impacts on these targets of SDG 6. The Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission (SBM) launched in 2014 led the country with more than 98% of households having access to toilets. The Jal Jeevan Mission has the ambitious target of universal coverage of drinking water supply. While these programmes have led to the overall development, a vast scope of improvement in these sectors exists especially considering the growing population, economic activity, urbanisation, and climate change impacts. Analysis also shows that adequate quantitative and qualitative data on the implementation of the various policies and programmes would be instrumental in synergising the implementation of the SDGs. A systems-thinking approach for sustaining the efforts of the ongoing programmes and ensuring equitable benefits of development in the water and sanitation sectors in India is recommended.
10 Kativhu, T.; Madzivanyika, T. T.; Nunu, W. N.; Macherera, M.; Chinyama, A. 2021. Sustainability of water facilities under community based management in Zimbabwe. AQUA - Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society, 12p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2021.089]
Water supply ; Community management ; Sustainability ; Financial analysis ; Institutions ; Technology ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Stakeholders ; Households / Zimbabwe / Chipinge
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050759)
https://iwaponline.com/aqua/article-pdf/doi/10.2166/aqua.2021.089/972124/jws2021089.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050759.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050759.pdf
(0.44 MB) (448 KB)
Community Based Management (CBM) has been envisaged as a panacea to sustainability challenges faced in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector globally. In spite of this approach having success stories, studies have shown that failures are also being recorded. This study investigated the sustainability of rural water supply facilities under the CBM approach in Chipinge District of Zimbabwe. The specific objectives were to assess the technical, financial and institutional factors influencing sustainability. A cross sectional study design was used. Data was collected using Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, household questionnaires and an observation checklist. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel while qualitative data was analysed using the thematic approach. Results showed that the technical factors which are influencing sustainability are age of the water facility, frequency of carrying out preventive maintenance and existence of external support. Regression analysis showed a positive linear correlation between age and breakdown frequency (R2 = 0.46) and the odds of obtaining a breakdown decreased as the frequency of preventive maintenance increased. User communities were contributing inadequate O&M funds resulting in long downtimes. Non-functionality of WPCs negatively influenced sustainability. The study recommends training of user communities on CBM and technical skills.
11 Sy, I.; Bodian, A.; Konte, M. A.; Diop, L.; Ndiaye, P. M.; Thiam, S.; Mouanda, J. 2021. Impact of regional water supply, sanitation et hygiene (WASH) program in Senegal on rural livelihoods and sustainable development. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 15p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2021.029]
Water supply ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Livelihoods ; Rural areas ; Households ; Communities ; Infrastructure ; Drinking water ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Socioeconomic environment / Africa / Senegal / Louga / Ziguinchor / Kolda
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050764)
https://iwaponline.com/washdev/article-pdf/doi/10.2166/washdev.2021.029/967368/washdev2021029.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050764.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050764.pdf
(0.91 MB) (928 KB)
In 2006, Senegal benefited from the African Development Bank's (AfDB) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) a WASH sub-program for 17,100 households in rural areas in the regions of Louga, Ziguinchor and Kolda. A project results assessment was conducted in 2016 by the AfDB Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) to measure the sub-program impacts on the living conditions of the communities. This approach allowed the measurement of project impacts based on comparative pre-and post-intervention data, as well as beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries' groups considering collected quantitative data (963 households, 38 schools, 23 health centres and 46 GPS points of infrastructures) and qualitative data (31 individual interviews and 4 focus group discussions). Several analyses (descriptive statistics, correlative analysis, effects and impact analysis with Average Treatment Effect (ATE) and cartographic treatment) were carried out to determine the project's results indicators as well as their overall effects. The results show an access rate of 73% for drinking water among beneficiaries against 6% among non-beneficiaries, and an access rate of 72% for sanitation (improved latrine) in the treatment areas against 33.7% in the control areas. In sub-program focus areas, an increase in the quantity of water used per household by 157 liters, a reduction in water price by 0.072 USD and reduction in time taken to supply drinking water of 65 minutes were observed. Also, it was noted a reduction in arduousness of carrying water by 2 km from the supply point, an increase in the schooling rate of children, especially girls, in income-generating activities, a decrease in the number of sick people avoided by 2 persons and increase in medical treatment avoided were noted. The progress made by the project's achievements demonstrate that improvement in water access, sanitation and hygiene access is one of the main drivers and levers of change and transformation of the households' living conditions in rural areas, often explaining the priority given to this area of intervention within the implementation of the MDGs and SDGs.
12 Joshi, Deepa; Haque, S.; Nahar, K.; Tania, S.; Singh, J.; Wallace, T. 2022. Public lives, private water: female ready-made garment factory workers in peri-urban Bangladesh. In Narain, V.; Roth, D. (Eds.). Water security, conflict and cooperation in peri-urban South Asia: flows across boundaries. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. pp.67-88. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79035-6_4]
Water supply ; Gender equality ; Women ; Factory workers ; Empowerment ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Social aspects ; Households ; Domestic water ; Poverty ; Periurban areas / Bangladesh / Dhaka / Gazipur / Bhadam
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050845)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-030-79035-6_4.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050845.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050845.pdf
(0.82 MB) (842 KB)
In Dhaka city and its fringe peri-urban sprawls water for domestic use is an increasingly contested commodity. The location of our research, Gazipur district, bordering the growing city of Dhaka, is the heartland of Bangladesh’s Ready Made Garments (RMG) industry, which has spread unplanned in former wetlands and agrarian belts. However, unlike Dhaka, the almost fully industrialized peri-urban areas bordering the city, like many other such areas globally, function in an institutional vacuum. There are no formal institutional arrangements for water supply or sanitation. In the absence of regulations for mining groundwater for industrial use and weakly enforced norms for effluent discharge, the expansion of the RMG industry and other industries has had a disproportionate environmental impact. In this complex and challenging context, we apply a political economy lens to draw attention to the paradoxical situation of the increasingly “public” lives of poor Bangladeshi women working in large numbers in the RMG industry in situations of increasingly “private” and appropriated water sources in this institutionally liminal peri-urban space. Our findings show that poorly paid work for women in Bangladesh’s RMG industry does not translate to women’s empowerment because, among others, a persisting masculinity and the lack of reliable, appropriate and affordable WASH services make women’s domestic water work responsibilities obligatory and onerous.
13 van Koppen, Barbara; Raut, Manita; Rajouria, Alok; Khadka, Manohara; Pradhan, P.; GC, R. K.; Colavito, L.; O’Hara, C.; Rautanen, S.-L.; Nepal, P. R.; Shrestha, P. K. 2022. Gender equality and social inclusion in community-led multiple use water services in Nepal. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 29p. (IWMI Working Paper 203) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.200]
Multiple use water services ; Gender equality ; Social inclusion ; Community involvement ; Water resources ; Water supply ; Supply chains ; Right to water ; Water availability ; Drinking water ; Domestic water ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Participatory approaches ; Decision making ; Governmental organizations ; Non-governmental organizations ; Households ; Women ; Livelihoods ; Vulnerability ; Water sharing ; Solar energy ; Food security ; Nexus ; Rural areas ; Water systems ; Infrastructure ; Irrigation ; Small scale systems ; Sustainability ; Benefit-cost ratio ; Financing ; Income ; Competition / Nepal / Dailekh / Sarlahi
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H050908)
(1.21 MB)
The Constitution of Nepal 2015 enshrines everyone’s right of access to clean water for drinking and the right to food. The common operationalization of the right to water for drinking is providing access to infrastructure that brings water for drinking and other basic domestic uses near and at homesteads. Challenges to achieving this goal in rural areas include: low functionality of water systems; expansion of informal self supply for multiple uses; widespread de facto productive uses of water systems designed for domestic uses; growing competition for finite water resources; and male elite capture in polycentric decision-making. This paper traces how the Nepali government and nongovernmental organizations in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), irrigation and other sectors have joined forces since the early 2000s to address these challenges by innovating community-led multiple use water services (MUS). The present literature review of these processes complemented by field research supported by the Water for Women Fund focuses on women in vulnerable households.
Overcoming sectoral silos, these organizations support what is often seen as the sole responsibility of the WASH sector: targeting infrastructure development to bring sufficient water near and at homesteads of those left behind. Women’s priorities for using this water are respected and supported, which often includes productive uses, also at basic volumes. In line with decentralized federalism, inclusive community-led MUS planning processes build on vulnerable households’ self supply, commonly for multiple uses, and follow their priorities for local incremental infrastructure improvements. Further, community-led MUS builds on community-based arrangements for ‘sharing in’ and ‘sharing out’ the finite water resources in and under communities’ social territories. This realizes the constitutional right to food in line with the Nepal Water Resources Act, 1992, which prioritizes core minimum volumes of water for everyone’s domestic uses and many households’ irrigation. Evidence shows how the alleviation of domestic chores, women’s stronger control over food production for nutrition and income, and more sustainable infrastructure mutually reinforce each other in virtuous circles out of gendered poverty. However, the main challenge remains the inclusion of women and vulnerable households in participatory processes.
Overcoming sectoral silos, these organizations support what is often seen as the sole responsibility of the WASH sector: targeting infrastructure development to bring sufficient water near and at homesteads of those left behind. Women’s priorities for using this water are respected and supported, which often includes productive uses, also at basic volumes. In line with decentralized federalism, inclusive community-led MUS planning processes build on vulnerable households’ self supply, commonly for multiple uses, and follow their priorities for local incremental infrastructure improvements. Further, community-led MUS builds on community-based arrangements for ‘sharing in’ and ‘sharing out’ the finite water resources in and under communities’ social territories. This realizes the constitutional right to food in line with the Nepal Water Resources Act, 1992, which prioritizes core minimum volumes of water for everyone’s domestic uses and many households’ irrigation. Evidence shows how the alleviation of domestic chores, women’s stronger control over food production for nutrition and income, and more sustainable infrastructure mutually reinforce each other in virtuous circles out of gendered poverty. However, the main challenge remains the inclusion of women and vulnerable households in participatory processes.
14 Ko, S. H.; Sakai, H. 2022. Water sanitation, hygiene and the prevalence of diarrhea in the rural areas of the delta region of Myanmar. Journal of Water and Health, 20(1):149-156. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2021.192]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Public health ; Diarrhoea ; Rural areas ; Developing countries ; Water supply ; Drinking water ; Contamination ; Water treatment ; Water quality ; Health education ; Rainwater ; Households ; Villages / Myanmar / Yangon / Htantabin / Kaw Hmu / Kun Gyan Gon
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050893)
https://iwaponline.com/jwh/article-pdf/20/1/149/997980/jwh0200149.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050893.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050893.pdf
(0.47 MB) (476 KB)
Myanmar is an agriculture-based country with 70% of the total population residing in rural areas. Around half of the total population in Myanmar has to consume water from unimproved sources. The prevalence of diarrhea due to contaminated drinking water is high even in urban areas. The urban community may expect the provision of municipal water supply in the near future if the current revolution against military dictatorship succeeds. However, the rural areas have less or no chance to get quality water because of a lot of other prioritized tasks. Household water treatment is encouraged to be implemented as one of the national water safety plans for rural water supply in Myanmar. This study explored the diarrhea prevention awareness of the rural community using a questionnaire survey. The microbial quality parameters of drinking water sources were also examined. Fecal coliform contamination was detected in all examined drinking water sources. A significant association was found between drinking untreated water and the occurrence of diarrhea. The percentage of people who applied the diarrhea preventive measures was low. Even if they knew how to prevent the disease, very few people applied the measures in reality. Therefore, measures to cause behavioral change should be initiated, together with awareness raising, to promote diarrhea prevention in the community.
15 Lebel, L.; Navy, H.; Siharath, P.; Long, C. T. M.; Aung, N.; Lebel, P.; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Lebel, B. 2023. COVID-19 and household water insecurities in vulnerable communities in the Mekong Region. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 25(4):3503-3522. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02182-0]
Water insecurity ; COVID-19 ; Households ; Vulnerability ; Communities ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Hand washing ; Good practices ; Drinking water ; Water quality ; Water systems ; Gender ; Women ; Risk reduction ; Socioeconomic environment / Cambodia / Lao People's Democratic Republic / Myanmar / Thailand / Vietnam / Mekong Region
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050959)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10668-022-02182-0.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050959.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050959.pdf
(1.25 MB) (1.25 MB)
Access to sufficient clean water is important for reducing the risks from COVID-19. It is unclear, however, what influence COVID-19 has had on water insecurities. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between COVID-19 control measures and household water insecurities. A survey of 1559 individuals living in vulnerable communities in five countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) showed that increased needs for clean water to wash hands or facemasks made it more likely a person was water insecure along those dimensions. Water insecurities with respect to handwashing and drinking, in turn, made adoption of the corresponding good practices less likely, whereas in the case of washing facemasks there was no association. Water system infrastructure, environmental conditions such as foods and droughts, as well as gender norms and knowledge, were also important for water insecurities and the adoption of good practices. As domestic water insecurities and COVID-19 control measures are associated with each other, efforts should therefore be directed at identifying and assisting the water insecure at high risk when COVID-19 reaches their communities.
16 Lebel, L.; Aung, N.; Long, C. T. M.; Siharath, P.; Lebel, P.; Navy, H.; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Lebel, B. 2022. Stakeholder perspectives on COVID-19 and household water access in vulnerable communities in the Mekong Region. Environmental Management, 69(6):1066-1077. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01616-9]
Water availability ; Domestic water ; Households ; COVID-19 ; Stakeholders ; Communities ; Vulnerability ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Drinking water ; Water supply ; Water shortage ; Water quality ; Water treatment ; Water rights ; Prices ; Monitoring ; Villages / Cambodia / Lao People's Democratic Republic / Myanmar / Thailand / Vietnam / Mekong Region
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050976)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00267-022-01616-9.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050976.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050976.pdf
(0.59 MB) (605 KB)
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of safe access to sufficient clean water in vulnerable communities, renewing interest in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs and related targets under Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). The purpose of this study was to better understand the obstacles to water access in vulnerable communities and identify ways they might be addressed in five countries in the Mekong Region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam). To this end, qualitative interviews with 50 government officials and development or health experts were complimented with a quantitative survey of the experiences and views of individuals in 15 vulnerable communities. There were several key findings. First, difficulties in accessing sufficient clean water for drinking and hygiene persist in certain vulnerable communities, including informal urban settlements, remote minority villages, and migrant worker camps. Second, limited rights, high prices, and remote locations were common obstacles to household access to improved water sources. Third, seasonal differences in the availability of clean water, alongside other disruptions to supply such as restrictions on movement in COVID-19 responses, drove households towards lower quality sources. Fourth, there are multiple threats to water quality from source to consumption that should be addressed by monitoring, treatment, and watershed protection. Fifth, stakeholder groups differ from each other and residents of vulnerable communities regarding the significance of water access, supply and quality difficulties, and how they should be addressed. The paper ends with a set of program suggestions addressing these water-related difficulties.
17 Mvongo, V. D.; Defo, C.; Tchoffo, M. 2022. Developing a novel tool for assessing water service sustainability in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 12(3):278-285. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2022.203]
Water supply ; Sustainability ; Assessment ; Rural areas ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Governance ; Institutions ; Indicators ; Economic aspects ; Social aspects / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050946)
https://iwaponline.com/washdev/article-pdf/12/3/278/1029467/washdev0120278.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050946.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050946.pdf
(0.38 MB) (386 KB)
The present study aimed to develop a tool for assessing water service sustainability in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This tool is called the ‘Water Service Assessment Tool’ (WaSAT) and is based on the Water Service Sustainability Index (WSSI) which consists of 21 indicators grouped into six dimensions (economic, environmental, social, technical, institutional, and governance). The WaSAT was developed using Microsoft Excel and PowerApps platforms. This tool provides a solid baseline on the sustainability of water services and identifies priority actions to be taken to move services toward sustainability.
18 Ahabwe, G. Z.; Batega, D. W.; Ssewaya, A.; Niwagaba, C. B. 2022. Governance conundrum in pursuit of the human right to water and sanitation: tracking the progress of the leave-no-one-behind principle in Uganda. Journal of Water and Climate Change, 13(1):83-95. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2021.079]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Human rights ; Governance ; Water rights ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Water supply ; Communities ; Gender equality ; Women ; Households ; Vulnerability ; Legislation ; Local government ; Non-governmental organizations ; Civil society organizations ; Private sector ; Policies / Uganda / Kampala
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051053)
https://iwaponline.com/jwcc/article-pdf/13/1/83/996793/jwc0130083.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051053.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051053.pdf
(0.34 MB) (348 KB)
The Government of Uganda is a party to numerous international and national commitments, laws and regulatory frameworks to deliver the socio-economic transformation of its citizens. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commit states, Uganda inclusive, to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030. According to the SDG 6 resolutions, the rights to water and sanitation are legally binding upon states, which have the primary responsibility to ensure their full realization, including unserved and under-served areas. While the SDGs came into force after 2015, it is not clear the extent to which Uganda's policies, legal instruments and practice are aligned to the SDGs. A combined methodology was adopted to undertake the study under a cross-sectional design. The study reviewed relevant literature such as sector performance reports on water and sanitation. Purposive sampling was used to select relevant informants for primary data. Key informant interviews were held with representatives of relevant government agencies, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations, indigenous communities and the private sector. Findings indicate that while the Government of Uganda has made tremendous efforts regarding the right to water and sanitation, enormous challenges and gaps remain. For instance, the pro-poor strategies to access safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are largely insignificant.
19 Leflaive, X.; Dominique, K.; Alaerts, G. J. (Eds.) 2022. Financing investment in water security: recent developments and perspectives. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 381p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/C2019-0-03290-6]
Water security ; Financing ; Investment ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Water supply ; Water availability ; Equity ; Public finance ; Infrastructure ; Markets ; Political aspects ; Public-private partnerships ; Organizations ; River basin institutions ; Donors ; Funding ; Systemic action ; Strategies ; Climate change ; Floods ; Risk ; Wastewater treatment ; Sewage ; Water quality ; Environmental restoration ; Policies ; Projects ; Innovation ; Models ; Assets ; Case studies ; European Union / Africa / Asia / United States of America / China / Kenya
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 333.91 G000 LEF, e-copy SF Record No: H051124)
(0.73 MB)
20 Nijhawan, A.; Howard, G.; Poudel, M.; Pregnolato, M.; Lo, Y. T. E.; Ghimire, A.; Baidya, M.; Geremew, A.; Flint, A.; Mulugeta, Y. 2022. Assessing the climate resilience of community-managed water supplies in Ethiopia and Nepal. Water, 14(8):1293. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/w14081293]
Climate change ; Resilience ; Water supply ; Community management ; Adaptation ; Indicators ; Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Drinking water ; Risk ; Institutions ; Infrastructure ; Rural areas / Ethiopia / Nepal / Kersa / Haramaya / Chitwan / Kaski
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051116)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/8/1293/pdf?version=1650035968
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051116.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051116.pdf
(1.25 MB) (1.25 MB)
Understanding the resilience of water supplies to climate change is becoming an urgent priority to ensure health targets are met. Addressing systemic issues and building the resilience of community-managed supplies, which serve millions of people in rural LMIC settings, will be critical to improve access to safe drinking water. The How Tough is WASH (HTIW) framework to assess resilience was applied to community-managed water supplies in Ethiopia and Nepal to assess the effectiveness of this framework in field conditions. The resilience of these water supplies was measured along six domains—the environment, infrastructure, management, institutional support, community governance and supply chains—that can affect how they respond to climate change effects. We found that the HTIW framework provided an objective measure of resilience and could be used to rank water supplies in order of priority for action. We also found that systemic issues could be identified. The tools and methods used in the framework were easy to deploy by field research teams. The water supplies studied in Ethiopia and Nepal had low to moderate resilience to climate change. Service management and institutional support were weak in both countries. The data from Ethiopia and Nepal suggests that many water supplies in rural and small-town communities are unlikely to be resilient to future climate change without increased investment and support. The use of simple frameworks such as HTIW will be important in supporting decisions around such investments by identifying priority communities and actions.
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