Why do water projects go wrong? Lessons from Africa

Why are many water supply and sanitation (WS&S) projects neither demand responsive, pro-poor nor sustainable? Can social marketing and demand responsiveness approaches to WS&S be combined? In their rush to get 'safe' water to x percent of communities, have donors sidelined sanitation? And why are women so uninvolved in decision making?

A study from Water and Environmental Health at London and Loughborough (WELL) synthesises learning from country sector studies in water supply, sanitation and environmental health in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. It argues the need for NGOs to investigate simple lower cost solutions, upgrade traditional water supplies, think strategically about post-implementation sustainability and develop dissemination strategies to ensure that experiences are more widely known.

Implementing agencies routinely set up users' committees but their roles and responsibilities are often undefined and problems arise when outsiders leave. Committee members are not equipped with the technical skills to make informed choices about technology or the management skills to ensure economic sustainability. Initial tariff levels rarely take account of operation and maintenance needs.

Sanitation, health and hygiene promotion have received less priority than water supply and are often treated as insignificant 'add-ons'. Protected springs are frequently contaminated with faecal coliforms; water stored at home is often unsafe to consume. Donor preoccupation with construction of VIP (ventilated improved pit) latrines has overlooked the possibility of safe disposal of faeces by burial.

Water pumps frequently become non-operational 2/3 years after installation and communities lack the skills, spare parts or resources to repair them. Establishment of a viable market for the supply of spares and repairs at affordable prices requires government intervention, provision of credit and training in technical and business skills. Other points made by the report include:

• Statistics on access to 'safe' or 'adequate' water often lack credibility.
• NGOs provide little information on the post-implementation functionality and sustainability of WS&S initiatives.
• NGOs often neglect government extension workers who, with appropriate training, could be a valuable resource for WS&S projects.
• The needs of the vulnerable (eg the poor unable to pay tariffs, the elderly unable to dig latrine pits) are often not considered.
• Tanzania's receptive policy and institutional environment (welcoming international NGOs prepared to integrate with government services) could be a model.
• Female representation on users' committees is often tokenistic and in-kind labour contributions are often disproportionately provided by women.

Policy implications emerging from the report include:

• Successful adoption of demand-responsive approaches requires facilitators with access to detailed information (on technology, capital and operation and maintenance costs) needed by communities.
• In isolated rural areas, where it is unlikely that the private sector will be able to deliver services, communal management arrangements must be worked out in advance of interventions.
• PRA skills need to be developed to help men perceive the importance of women in WS&S decisions.
• Rigid adherence to the multi-sectoral rural livelihoods approach may deter external support agencies with a WS&S sector-specific remit.

Source(s):
'Learning lessons from sector studies - Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and Kenya' by Paul Deverill and Andrew Cotton, Task #325, Water and Environmental Health at London and Loughborough (WELL)

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 13 December 2001

Further Information:
Paul Deverill or Andrew Cotton
Water Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC)
Loughborough University
Leicestershire LE11 3TU
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1509 222 643 / 228309
Contact the contributor: P.A.Deverill@lboro.ac.uk

Contact the contributor: A.P.Cotton@lboro.ac.uk

Water Engineering and Development Centre, UK

Other related links:
'Tapping the market. Can private enterprise supply water to the poor?' Insights #37

'From subsidy to sustainability: cost recovery challenges in urban water supply'

'Flushing away arid theories: a reality check on the water debate'

WELL is a resource centre promoting environmental health and well-being

WSP helps the poor gain sustained access to improved water supply and sanitation services

Read the Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000

See also the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council