Building an institutional rainwater harvesting framework; the RAIN model and its challenges

Ard Schoemaker, RAIN Foundation, the Netherlands,International Symposium on Rural Water Services, 14-4-2010, Kampala

Outline:

1. The RAIN Foundation in short

2. Where does rainwater harvesting stand today?

3. Main topic: an enabling environment for upscaling (RWH)

4. Required capacities on all levels

5. Conclusions / challenges

6. Dialogue with floor

1. The RAIN Foundation in short

Implementation oriented network

Access to water, decentralised

Build capacities on multiple levels

International network

R&D, mutual learning, M&E

2. Brief overview: where does rainwater harvesting stand today?

”Steps to be taken”

RWH practiced all over,

successful technologies & results

Overcome scattered RWH projects

Structural approach to upscale and capacity building

Communicate and multiply upscaling success stories

Many lessons learned and best practices developed

Provide structural knowledge sharing and capacity development & cost reduction

More and more organisations / institutions involved

Construct institutional environment for impl/maint/manag (such as for “traditional” drinking water systems)

”Progress”

Awareness on potential and need to integrate RWH into policies increased (o.a. due to climate change)

Structurally integrate RWH into policies and government management plans.

Technical socio-organisational capacities available on specific levels

Structural building of capacities on all required levels, (univ. governments, ..)

Successful water provision on local levels

Integrate RWH in IWRM, take climate change into account

2. Where does rainwater harvesting stand today?

”Steps to be taken””Progress”

3. An enabling environment for upscaling RWH (theoretical framework)

Technology: low cost, simple, manageable,

sustainable

Implementation programmes /

suppliers

Institutional environment;

organisations that can develop, policies,

technologies, programmes

Funding & Financial

mechanisms

Knowledge & capacities: on different levels

RWH embedded in policies and water management plans

Implementing partners

Govern-ment

Rainwater Harvesting Capacity Centre

Users

Providers / chain

Knowledge institutes / universities

International levels, policies, funds, programmes

MFI’s / banks

ODA’s

RA

IN Enabling environment (on national level) to ensure sustainability and continuity of RWH on country level

National multi stakeholder group

Technology: low cost, simple, manageable,

sustainable

Implementation programmes /

suppliers

Institutional environment;

organisations that can develop, policies,

technologies, programmes

Funding & Financial

mechanisms

Knowledge & capacities: on different levels

RWH embedded in policies and water management plans

3. An enabling environment for upscaling RWH (practical implementation)

Underestimated need to

develop ca

pacities o

f the

overall s

ector

Financing Institutions

People living in rural and unserved areas

Government

Central Coordination & Monitoring Body

District and Local implementing organisations

Knowledge & Research Institutes

District and Local RWH service centres

3. An institutional RWH framework for upscaling RWH

4. Required capacities for an institutional RWH framework - Levels

User level

Construction level, engineers, masons, technicians…

Socio-organisational level

NGO / local government level

Supplier level

Knowledge centres / universities

Governmental levels

“FIETS” sustainability

5. Conclusions - challenges

1. There is a real need for collaboration and a

mutually learning, institutional environment,

to enable upscaling and sustainability.

2. Post construction support functions should

be filled in

3. Capacities on all levels should be adequate

and kept updated, best practices

continuously exchanged.

4. Governments could/should be(come) a key

player to support this.

6. Dialogue with you

1. What is your opinion on the need of / value for such an enabling

environment? - Which other models exist, or work?

2. How to address the poorest layers, where no markets exists, LG are

often absent? Does the “background paper framework” still stands?

3. How to embed RWH in policies (on a large scale)?

4. ….

Thank youwww.rainfoundation.org