Acknowledging and Learning from Different Types of Failure

Abstract

The challenges faced in sanitation and hygiene programmes are numerous and complex. Failures are inevitable. From our experience of working on rapid action learning and research in this sector we have found that when mistakes are shared they are usually those which were uncontrollable and unanticipated i.e. somebody else’s fault. In this perspectives piece we propose a typology of failure alongside criteria for research and learning processes that prioritises timeliness, relevance and actionability. We argue that these can be used together to identify and reflect on failures (and successes) quickly. We provide some practical suggestion for different stakeholders to support a shift towards a more open and reflexive sector, where all types of failures can be shared broadly.

Learning From and Preventing Failure in WASH

“…In our special collection on 'Learning from Failure in Environmental Research and Public Health', Weekly (2021) developed a framework for how organisations can build an enabling environment for anticipating and learning from failure when it does occur, consisting of a foundation level, skills and behaviours, and formal mechanisms (including external accountability) (Figure 4). In the same collection, Vernon and Myers (2021) developed a typology of failures (Figure 5) which can be used to identify the types of failures people are willing (and unwilling) to share, and help actors think through ways these can be learnt from rapidly. They recommended that organisations use Rapid Action Learning to anticipate failures in real time and correct course to control them.…”

“…The simplicity of tagging a social media handle, rather than adding to a new website or submitting to a newsletter, is a simple way to keep conversations going.Ultimately, however, sharing online is a short-term solution to fill a gap while more institutionalised solutions can be built. The importance of the latter is highlighted thus by an academic in South Africa: of failures based on whether they can be anticipated or controlled Source:Vernon and Myers 2021 used to reduce duplication and identify and prevent avoidable failures from occurring. Strong leadership and coordination at global, national, and subnational levels is necessary to develop institutions that integrate learning from -and address failures at -all levels across the sector.…”

Learning from Failure in Environmental and Public Health Research

“…How we can learn from failures in environmental and public health and embed these lessons into our organisations. 14 , 15 …”

“…• • Failures in environmental and public health monitoring and measurement, including a discussion on how randomised controlled trials fail to capture the full complexity of WASH interventions within multi-sectoral systems, 10 why better standard procedures are needed for measuring phosphorous in wastewater, 11 how sharing soil testing data through mobile technology is a low priority for farmers in Ghana and Kenya, 12 and how plastic waste from water quality testing creates landfill, but there currently is no reliable method for reusing plastic filters without impacting on measurement quality 13 ; • • How we can learn from failures in environmental and public health and embed these lessons into our organisations. 14,15 Overall, the papers in this Collection demonstrate that failures happen everywhere: in the laboratory, when engaging with communities, in organisational leadership and even when talking about failure. Attempting to completely rid our work of failures is impossible, but we should work to fail better and ensure that we are not recreating the same failures time and time again.…”