Harold LockwoodAguaconsult

Brisbane, Australia

SessionA2.B

Why the rural water sector has failed to deliver truly

sustainable services and how to fix it

BROKEN PUMPS AND PIPES

WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …2

1990 to 2008: coverage increased from 1.59 to 2.32 billion (JMP 2010)

Tens of billions of dollars invested

Evolving approaches: VLOM, community management, DRA, post-construction support

Testing new elements: gender, supply chains, water resource protection

MUCH EFFORT AND PROGRESS MADE

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About 730 million still un-served (JMP 2010)

88% of investment required for recurrent costs (GLAAS 2010)

Unacceptable failure rates

Waste of investments and health, dignity, well-being and livelihoods affected

BUT MANY CHALLENGES REMAIN

30% - 40% of handpumps in Africa are not functioning

WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …4

THE COST OF FAILURE – 20

COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Investment loss in sub-Saharan Africa of between US$ 1.2 to 1.3 billion over 20 years

Information Collated by Peter Harvey, UNICEF Zambia, May 2007

36%

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‘SLIPPAGE’ - DECLINING SERVICE LEVELS IN INDIA

Information presented at IRC Slippage roundtable Briefing, Delhi, June 2009

>30%

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SO WHAT HAS GONE WRONG?

@Akvo

2. Financing focused on initial construction and not lifetime costs

3. Lack of investment to improve overall sector capacity

1. An obsession with coverage and building infrastructure at the scale of the community

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SO WHAT HAS GONE WRONG?

4. Weak WASH sectors – lack of incentives, political influence and corruption

5. A donor-dominated, fragmented and competing sector

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INCREASING COVERAGE IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY

Breakdowns, failures, non-functionality, slippage ........... a

tipping point which is now a threat to achieving the MDGs?

Breakdowns, failures, non-functionality, slippage ........... a

tipping point which is now a threat to achieving the MDGs?

Build on current progress, but shift from infrastructure to service delivery

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THE SERVICE DELIVERY APPROACH

Implement

Upgrade

Service Delivery Approach

Upgrade

Replace

Implement Implement Implement

Business as usual

Time

Service level

Investment (capital expenditure)

Investment (operational expenditure)

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WHAT MAKES A WATER SERVICE WORK?

Clear sector policies Well defined institutional roles

and responsibilities Learning and innovation Good implementation practices Strong planning, coordination,

leadership Long-term support and monitoring Appropriate technology Relevant management models Finance for life-cycle costs

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SOME BUILDING BLOCKS TO GET THERE

Professional-isation of

CBM

Sustainability indicators and

targets

Alternative management

options

Post-construction

support

Life-cycle costs & asset management

Support to capacity of

local government

Donor harmonisation and alignment

Learning capacity

Improved regulation and

oversight

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Provide a vision of services

Set out clear frameworks and norms

Raise the status of the rural water sector

Support the capacity of local government

Hear and respond to user voices

A CALL TO ACTION: NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

“Avoid disappointed constituents and slipping coverage rates; shift your focus from building water supply systems to supporting water services”

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Make sure programmes are integrated - coordinate and align planning at local level

Ensure CBM is well supported

Work within sector norms and standards

Commit to long-term monitoring

A CALL TO ACTION: NGOS AND CHARITIES

“Make good intentions sustainable; work with governments and communities to establish water services that last”

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Invest to support permanent services

Support sector capacity alongside capital infrastructure

Long-term and reliable funding horizons

Encourage alternative capacities and approaches - local private sector

A CALL TO ACTION: DONORS AND FUNDERS

“Out of every three rural water supply systems you’ve invested in, chances are one isn’t working. Improve the odds; invest in services”

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1. A focus on permanent delivery of services

2. Long-term development of national capacity and leadership

3. Improve the way aid to the sector is structured and delivered

“Providing pipes and pumps are not enough; people need water services that last”

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

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WATER SERVICES THAT LAST

www.waterservicesthatlast.org