A Framework for Action
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The document outlines guidelines for implementing organizations to address issues with water systems, emphasizing that resolution is necessary for sustainable water services. It highlights the importance of understanding root causes of failures, engaging local governments, and ensuring accountability to users while promoting good water service practices. Various guidelines across environmental, financial, and social domains are specified to improve the effectiveness and longevity of water projects.
A Framework for Action
- 1. A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION WASH Sustainability 3-Part Webinar Series September 27, 2014
- 2. RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMS WITH WATER SYSTEMS: GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATIONS September 17, 2014 Susan Davis, Improve International
- 3. What is resolution? Resolution is the process of addressing problems identified through post- implementation monitoring and/or evaluation. Assumes that implementing organizations are responsible for responding when they find water systems they have built are non- functional or need major repair.
- 4. The case for resolution âąWater is a human right. âąTo save lives and change lives, implementing organizations need to focus on the provision of good water services forever. âąFailed and abandoned water systems are a massive waste of investment â not only on the part of the donors, but also on the part of the community. Failed systems make poor people poorer. âąMany problems with water services are attributed to poor implementation.
- 5. Guidelines: for your consideration The definition of guideline is a general rule, principle, or piece of advice. Synonyms include: recommendation, suggestion, or advice.
- 6. Who are these guidelines for? Implementing organizations, to include: âąVolunteer groups âąChurch groups âąCivic groups âąInternational NGOs âąLocal NGOs âąCommunity based organizations âąFor profit contractors
- 7. Wait, shouldnât governments be responsible? âąResolution activities should be a bridge to sustained, locally-led services. âąGoal is for governments to lead the way in ensuring water services for everyone in their countries. âąThese guidelines and approaches are intended to move implementing organizations toward that common goal.
- 8. Where did these guidelines come from? âąDifficult to determine root causes vs. symptoms, but repetitiveness of the problems across the globe suggests that there are common ways we can respond. âąBased on common failures and recommendations from interviews, a literature review, and the Resolution Workshop Feb 2014
- 9. Overall guidelines âąFirst, do no harm. Understand and address root causes of problems instead of just repairing infrastructure âąChange measurements of success âąBe accountable to water users
- 10. Other measurements of success âąOrganizationâs contribution to the nationâs water goals âąWater-person-years: http://www.sustainablewash.org/measuring-sustainability âą% households (or systems) in a district with ongoing basic service level: http://www.ircwash.org/news/service-levels
- 11. Implementation guidelines âąShift from implementation and rehabilitation to facilitation, such as capacity building for supporting service providers âąCollaboratively define and agree on roles and responsibilities in ensuring ongoing services âąImprove monitoring to rapidly and accurately identify areas for resolution âąDonors should show increased flexibility in funding to support such efforts
- 12. Implementation â practical approaches Extend implementing organization responsibility past the project Typical Project-Focused Approach Focus on Sustainability
- 13. Institutional guidelines âąEngage local governments and work within national frameworks âąCollaboratively define and agree on roles and responsibilities in ensuring ongoing services
- 14. Institutional â practical approaches âąAdvocate to governments âąHelp strengthen local governments âąFacilitate post-construction support of rural community water committees âąStimulate local private sector to deliver services or support service delivery âąSet up agreements with communities and service providers on roles âąEnable accountability of service providers âąOrganize isolated community water committees into networks
- 15. Environmental guideline Understand and plan water services based on usersâ multiple needs and sources of water, seasonal availability of water and water resource management needs
- 16. Environment â practical approaches âąEncourage watershed protection activities âąEducate users and service providers on water conservation
- 17. Financial guideline Water services are not free - all stakeholders must understand lifecycle costs and agree on who will pay for which costs
- 18. Financial â practical approaches âąClarify water system life cycle costs âąHelp service providers / water committees set and collect appropriate fees âąHelp service providers install household water meters
- 19. Social guideline Implementing organizations should make their exit strategy and timeline explicit while planning resolution activities with local stakeholders
- 20. Social â practical approaches Understand and stimulate demand for better services
- 21. Technical guideline Implementing organizations should engage local governments and work within national frameworks
- 22. Technical â practical approaches Engage local governments and work within national frameworks
- 23. Technical â practical approaches âąStrengthen or build spare parts supply chain âąCarefully consider technology applicability in context http://www.washtechnologies.net/en/
- 24. QUESTIONS?
- 25. Panelists Raul Gauto, FundaciĂłn Avina Ton Schouten, IRC Nanette Barkey, Plan USA John Sauer, Water For People
- 26. Draft Guidelines for Resolution âąOverall âąFirst do no harm. To avoid making the same mistakes, NGOs must take time to understand root causes of problems and address those instead of just repairing infrastructure âąTo best serve users, NGOs, donors and governments must change the measurements of success from number of new beneficiaries to contribution to sector, water-person-years, or households in a district with access to an ongoing basic service level âąNGOs must be accountable to water users âąImplementation âąNGOs should shift from implementation and rehabilitation to facilitation, such as capacity building for supporting service providers âąNGOs should collaboratively define and agree on roles and responsibilities in ensuring ongoing services âąNGOs should improve monitoring to rapidly and accurately identify areas for resolution âąDonors should show increased flexibility in funding to support such efforts âąInstitutional âąEngage local governments and work within national frameworks âąCollaboratively define and agree on roles and responsibilities in ensuring ongoing services âąEnvironmental âąNGOs should be realistic about multiple uses and sources of water, seasonal availability of water and water resource management needs in all resolution activities. âąFinancial âąWater services are not free - all stakeholders must understand lifecycle costs and agree on who will pay for which costs. âąSocial âąImplementing organizations should make their exit strategy explicit while planning resolution activities with local stakeholders âąTechnical âąNGOs should engage local governments and work within national frameworks
- 27. Questions for You âąHow is your organization already using the guidelines? âąWhat are some examples? âąWhat are some challenges you see to using the guidelines?
- 28. Continue the Conversation WASH Sustainability Webinar Series archives http://sustainablewash.org/initiatives/wash- sustainability-webinar-series
- 29. HELP US ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS: âąWHO should be responsible for resolution and/or post-implementation monitoring? Who pays? For how long? âąHOW can we learn from the data and integrate those lessons into current and future programming? How do we address problems? âąWHAT resources, tools, frameworks, and approaches should be used to resolve issues? WE ARE LOOKING FOR: âąHandbooks âąSurveys âąCase studies âąChecklists âąEvaluations âąCost data âąContract language (agreements between service providers and community water committees, sustainability clauses) SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS TO: sustainability@WASHadvocates.org List of resources: www.WASHadvocates.org/learn/sustainability/merl