Lessons from water and sanitation mapping in Africa and South Asia

Mapping provides clear information on access to water and sanitation in poor countries. This information can be used by citizens to demand better services and by local governments to improve service delivery. What lessons can be learnt from the use of mapping in WaterAid’s country programmes?

Research from the Overseas Development Institute, in the UK, explores the different approaches to mapping used by WaterAid and the impact of mapping on policy processes. WaterAid is an international non-governmental organisation working to improve access to water and sanitation in poor countries. The research highlights lessons from its programmes in Ghana, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.

In many poor countries, there is not enough information on access to water and sanitation (for example, where water points are located). This prevents services reaching those who need them most. Mapping – when information about access to water and sanitation is displayed on a map – clearly shows areas of need, so it should improve the planning and delivery of services.

WaterAid uses various approaches to mapping depending on the aims of the particular country programme and the local context. In Malawi and Tanzania, the Global Positioning System (or GPS – a satellite positioning system) is used to locate water points in rural areas, helping local governments assess where coverage is low and decide where to install new ones.

In Ghana and Nigeria, GPS maps for both water and sanitation services are produced, and small towns are also included. Empowering citizens and involving them in the mapping process is also emphasised more.

In South Asia, mapping focuses on needs in urban areas. In Pakistan, WaterAid and its partners – such as the Orangi Pilot Project – concentrate on improving access to water and sanitation in the slum areas around big cities. An important part of this work has been the mapping of sewerage systems.

Key lessons from the case studies include:

• Mapping alone is not enough to influence policy: the process around mapping and follow-up are crucial.
• Defining key objectives (for example, improving planning or empowering citizens) and selecting the appropriate tools to achieve them are important.
• Information from mapping needs to be accurate and regularly updated.
• It matters who maps: public accountability of service delivery will be higher when mapping is carried out by independent organisations or when users are actively involved in the process.
• The political context matters: in Nigeria, for example, local governments lacked money and decision-making power for water sector projects at the time of the study.

The research concludes that the mapping of water and sanitation services can empower citizens, increase the public accountability of service delivery and reduce corruption. It can also support other pro-poor initiatives (such as the Millennium Development Goals), by providing detailed information at the local level. Reliable funding will be needed to ensure sustainability.

WaterAid can maximise the lessons from its mapping experience by:

• producing a guide summarising lessons on mapping
• encouraging country programmes and partners to reflect on their mapping activities and competencies
• facilitating regional workshops and exchanges between country programmes with different mapping skills and experiences.

Source(s):
‘WaterAid Learning for Advocacy and Good Practice. Water and Sanitation Mapping: a Synthesis of Findings’, WaterAid Report, WaterAid: London, by Katharina Welle, 2007 (PDF) Full document.
‘WaterAid Learning for Advocacy and Good Practice: Water and sanitation mapping in West Africa’, WaterAid Report, WaterAid: London, by Katharina Welle, 2007 (PDF) Full document.
‘WaterAid Learning for Advocacy and Good Practice: Water and sanitation mapping in Nepal’, WaterAid Report, WaterAid: London, by Katharina Welle, 2006 (PDF) Full document.

Funded by: WaterAid

id21 Research Highlight: 6 October 2008

Further Information:
Katharina Welle
Overseas Development Institute
111 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7JD, UK

Tel: +44 20 79220300
Fax: +44 20 79220399
Contact the contributor: k.welle@odi.org.uk

Overseas Development Institute, London, UK

WaterAid
2nd floor, 47-49 Durham Street
London, SE11 5JD, UK

Tel: +44 20 77934500
Fax: +44 20 77934545
Contact the contributor: wateraid@wateraid.org

WaterAid, UK

Other related links:
‘WaterAid Learning for Advocacy and Good Practice: Water and sanitation mapping in Pakistan’, WaterAid Report, WaterAid: London, by Katharina Welle, 2006 (PDF)

‘WaterAid Learning for Advocacy and Good Practice: WaterAid water point mapping in Malawi and Tanzania’, WaterAid Report, WaterAid: London, by Katharina Welle, 2005 (PDF)

‘Mapping for better accountability in service delivery’, ODI Briefing Paper 29, November 2007 (PDF)

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