Improving Monitoring and Water Point Functionality in Rural Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examines the patterns, trends, and factors associated with functional community water points in rural Ethiopia and identifies potential areas of improvement in terms of practitioner response to functionality and functionality monitoring. It was part of an integrated WaSH and nutrition program implemented by UNICEF Ethiopia and the Government of Ethiopia. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted to collect WaSH-related data in communities and WaSH committees from four community-based nutrition (CBN) program groupings in Ethiopia. In all areas, CBN was implemented, but only in less than half of the areas, a WaSH intervention was implemented. Seventy-three representative kebeles, comprising 30 intervention and 43 control communities, were surveyed. Two structured surveys were conducted. The ‘community survey’ addressed community water points and their functionality and the main areas for improvement needed. The ‘WaSH committee survey’ investigated technical and management aspects of water points and their functionality. Data were analyzed using bivariate regression to identify community characteristics and management practices associated with functionality of water points and explore opportunities to improve water point functionality and monitoring. In the communities, 65% of water points were functional. Eighty percent of communities had a WaSH committee. The WaSH committee members reported that the most used water point types were protected dug wells and boreholes, and that 80% of their water points were functional. India Mark II pumps were more likely to be functional and communities with longer established WaSH committees had higher water point functionality. Communities suggested that the key factors for water point sustainability were improving water quality and water pressure, reducing water collection time, and speeding up repair times. Taking community leaders’ ‘priority lists’ into consideration offers sustainable opportunities for demand-driven, adaptive and targeted design and implementation of rural water supply programs, which, if they include the grassroots level as key informants and actors of change, can succeed. Interventions should integrate the ‘voice’ of the community, the WaSH committees, and other stakeholders and thereby facilitate transdisciplinary approaches at different stages of program management (planning, monitoring, and evaluation). This would help closing the knowledge to action gap and improve policy, programming, practice, and service delivery.

How community engagement in water and sanitation interventions impacts human health, infrastructure and service longevity in low- and middle-income countries: a realist review

“…The focus of such monitoring may be progress towards achieving a goal. The goal may be about access to a service -e.g., to ensure that sanitation facilities are in place (10,22,31,33), that facilities meet the needs of people with disabilities (38), or that water is accessible (39,40). The goal may also be resource preservation (safety and/or accessibility) so that water is available to be accessed as desired -e.g., to check water samples for faecal or arsenic contamination (15,41), or to assess the level of groundwater available for agriculture throughout the year (32).…”

“…Internal monitoring can be conducted by a chief or village headman (10,22,31), locally trained volunteers (41), community members (32) or by the community's health or water committee (39)(40)(41).…”

“…transparent and has open channels for communicating with community members (10,22,31,40) and the use of technology allows up to date monitoring (31). Accountability is also strengthened where there is a functional, long-standing water or health committee whose members are active, motivated and committed, and have clear roles and responsibilities (39,40). A gender balanced committee opens up the space for accountability, as more opinions and views are considered on what factors are important and need to be considered (39,40,43,44).…”

Rural Water Collection Patterns: Combining Smart Meter Data with User Experiences in Tanzania

“…Here, high accuracy volumetric, time, and location data from smart meters are combined with quantitative and qualitative information from surveys and interviews with both community members and service providers, with a focus on times, travel, and volumes of collection. This combination allows limitations of each method to be addressed and can provide more contextualized insight [19][20][21]. Findings are supported by further analysis of a rural community in The Gambia where smart meters are also installed.…”

Reflecting SDG 6.1 in Rural Water Supply Tariffs: Considering ‘Affordability’ Versus ‘Operations and Maintenance Costs’ in Malawi

“…Households commonly obtain water from multiple sources despite the global monitoring focus on access to one source of water supply [47]. Sub-standard installations that are subject to premature breakdown, seasonal variations, and poverty can result in users relying on unimproved or multiple improved sources in other service areas [3,[48][49][50][51]. This may contribute to the number of users increases above the design limit of the Afridev (300 users).…”