Evaluating knowledge and capacity development in the water sector: challenges and progress

Mvulirwenande, Silas; Wehn, Uta; Alaerts, Guy J.

doi:10.1080/02508060.2017.1325995

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Essentially, by 2017, it was acknowledged that many of the hardware projects implemented to improve access to drinking water in developing countries, and sub-Saharan Africa in particular, had failed to meet their objectives [36]. The failure was partly due to weak operation, maintenance, and management of the infrastructure by water service providers, e.g., utilities [37].…”

Section: Conceptual Perspective: Capacity Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alaerts and Kaspersma [39] recommended that a multi-dimensional approach involving four interrelated levels-individual, organizational, enabling environment, and civil society-be considered for institutional and capacities development interventions. Capacity development can also take the form of education, organizational improvement, and awareness creation and understanding of water use and value by local communities [36,40,41]. Capacity development (CD) has been contextualized differently and our understanding of the term has evolved from narrow conceptualizations of capacity, with a focus on individuals or organizations [42], to an understanding that appreciates the systemic and multidimensional nature of capacity, focusing on the ability of human systems to perform, survive, and self-renew [43].…”

Section: Conceptual Perspective: Capacity Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Financial and material resources, and skills, were needed for rehabilitation of boreholes, for example the availability of spare parts, the finance to pay for them, and the technical skill to replace them. Aside from rehabilitation activities, capacity development could take different forms, such as education, organizational improvement, awareness creation, and an understanding of water use and value by local communities, which is an approach supported by several studies [36,[39][40][41].…”

Section: Financial Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Community-Managed Water Supply Systems in Rural Uganda: The Role of Participation and Capacity Development

Etongo

Fagan

Kabonesa

et al. 2018

Water

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Over 85% of Uganda’s 34 million people depend on rural water supply systems and the current water and environment sector performance report (2017) reports an 84% functionality of rural water sources such as boreholes and shallow wells with a hand pump. Ensuring the continued operation of water points, and in keeping with participatory theory, the water user’s committees (WUCs) should also be a vehicle for empowering communities while bringing about greater equity of use. However, WUC members do not acquire the knowledge and skills they need by default but require different types of training. This study sought to evaluate community participation and capacity development in WUCs in relation to community-managed water supply systems. A shared dialogue workshop (SDW), as well as 642 randomly selected households across 17 villages in two Parishes in Lwengo district, southern Uganda were considered. Results indicated that 41.7% of surveyed households used an unprotected source while up to 30% had a member in a WUC. Fifty-two percent of households had never made any financial contributions to a WUC, while 34.6% did so on an ad hoc basis. This paper examines the relationship between participation, mobilization, and financial contributions. The chi-square test indicated mobilization has no impact on household financial contributions to a WUC. However, the majority of even those households that were mobilized made a payment only occasionally, and specifically when the source broke down. Additionally, the test result reveals that there is no difference between better off and relatively poor households in their contributions to a WUC, an indication that other factors influence such decisions. Training activities, especially on the operation and maintenance of water points and to undertake minor repairs, were mostly provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/project staff. Abandoned boreholes, lack of rehabilitation activities, and loss of enthusiasm are all indications that the technical, financial, and institutional performance of community-managed water supply systems needs improvement.

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Section: Conceptual Perspective: Capacity Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conceptual Perspective: Capacity Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Financial Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Community-Managed Water Supply Systems in Rural Uganda: The Role of Participation and Capacity Development

Etongo

Fagan

Kabonesa

et al. 2018

Water

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“…This diversity in origin and application underscores its prevalence but also suggests complexity; however, pedagogical approaches and instruments are a common feature. CD is being increasingly viewed as a complex learning process that involves not only the transfer of knowledge and capacity from one social system to another, but also deliberate efforts by a particular system (such as an organisation) to create, strengthen and maintain its overall capacity over time (Mvulirwenande et al, 2014). Awareness is also growing that in order to enhance CD effectiveness, conceptual and operational frameworks need to be further elaborated, including shifting beyond the linear cause-result understanding that inputs delivered by practitioners will be straightforwardly translated into outputs measurable in terms of key performance indicators (KPIs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capacity development for SDG 6.5 on IWRM and transboundary cooperation: opportunities and barriers

Sabbatini

Damian²

2022

Water Policy

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Capacity development (CD) is acknowledged as a driver of effective implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) (SDG 6.5.1) and transboundary water management (SDG 6.5.2). This paper explores the factors that facilitate or hinder CD for these agendas, to describe the roles water CD organisations play in support of these SDGs at the country level and to suggest potential pathways to leverage their work. A survey was conducted to analyse the perspectives of 41 water CD programme managers on their operational modes, strengths, opportunities and main challenges. Selected key informants were interviewed in depth, and the findings were analysed in the light of the literature on CD. The results highlight (1) an array of good-practice activities currently in progress, which provide potential for scaling up to accelerate progress; (2) wide acceptance of the relevance of the 2030 Agenda, even though this does not always explicitly address specific SDGs and (3) the difficulties in making the 2030 Agenda relevant to local communities. Further research is recommended to understand the context- and culturally bound specifics of CD, to produce more locally sensitive and effective impact assessment frameworks and to adjust support to leverage CD to accelerate progress on the SDGs.

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Unleashing capacity in the water sector: A framework for public entities

Jiménez,

Álvarez Prado,

Saikia

2024

Water Policy

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Capacity development in the water sector is crucial to achieving universal, adequate, sustainable, and resilient services. It has been broadly recognized as a priority, connected with governance and management of water resources and water and sanitation services. Through a scoping review including 153 scientific articles and 103 other documents, complemented with a consultation of experts, this article presents how the concept of ‘capacity development’ has evolved, what levels it consists of, and which are the key elements of success for effective capacity development processes. The article finds that most existing frameworks do not conduct any in-depth analysis of the determinants that define capacity at different levels and that there is no specific framework for public water-related entities. To address this gap, a dedicated capacity development framework is proposed for the public water sector, defining the key determinants to be pondered in the analysis of the situation at different levels and types of interventions to achieve outcomes at each level. The framework will enable practitioners and policymakers to acknowledge the complexity and develop more systematic work on capacity development in water through various types of interventions that can support them.

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Evaluating knowledge and capacity development in the water sector: challenges and progress

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Community-Managed Water Supply Systems in Rural Uganda: The Role of Participation and Capacity Development

Community-Managed Water Supply Systems in Rural Uganda: The Role of Participation and Capacity Development

Capacity development for SDG 6.5 on IWRM and transboundary cooperation: opportunities and barriers

Unleashing capacity in the water sector: A framework for public entities

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