Learning brief 4: Experiences in WASH systems strengthening

This brief explores some of the approaches used by the 3 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Results Programme suppliers

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
20 October 2020
Document Type:
Lessons Learned
Theme:
Water and Sanitation

Abstract

Institutional sustainability is a fundamental part of realising the global goal of providing sustainable WASH services for all. This brief explores some of the approaches used by the three WASH Results Programme suppliers to strengthen systems for sustainable WASH services: working with and between public, private, community organisations and structures. SAWRP reflects on supply chain strengthening work with local sanitation entrepreneurs; SNV share lessons on working with local government to support inclusive, district-wide approaches to service delivery; and SWIFT describes approaches to professionalising water user committees and brokering between stakeholders in fragile contexts.

  • SAWRP: A well-functioning network of local sanitation entrepreneurs (LSEs) is important to facilitate and sustain latrine uptake. LSEs need support for business viability and to ensure they provide affordable products including those adapted for different needs. One challenge is ensuring LSEs reach people in remote areas.

  • SWIFT: Sustainability of water supply in fragile contexts can be strengthened through formation of professionalised water user committees financed by user fees. This requires work with communities to promote ownership and behaviour change communication to shift attitudes towards paying for water.

  • SNV: Local governments can be supported to adopt district-wide and multi-stakeholder approaches to sanitation and hygiene interventions; engagement of local private sector and civil society is essential and needs to include potentially vulnerable groups.

Cross-cutting insights:

  1. It is important to be systematic in reaching the last mile, recognising that the most vulnerable are particularly difficult to monitor.
  2. Systems strengthening takes time, necessitates building political will, flexible funding and eventual government budget allocation and capacity.
  3. NGOs can play a role in brokering connections between actors in a system.

Learning Briefs series

This is one in a short series of learning briefs exploring the WASH Results Programme’s achievements in delivering sustainable WASH outcomes and lessons about programme design. The full series is:

  1. Outcome achievements in the WASH Results Programme: data and insights

  2. Setting and monitoring outcome targets in WASH programmes

  3. Reaching the vulnerable and those in fragile contexts with WASH services

  4. Experiences in WASH systems strengthening

Citation

E-Pact (2020) Experiences in WASH systems strengthening: Learning brief #4

Learning brief #4: Experiences in WASH systems strengthening

Updates to this page

Published 20 October 2020
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