The Impact and Sustainability of Community Water Supply and Sanitation Programmes in Developing Countries

TLDR

Effective community water and sanitation programmes in developing countries require a clear understanding of existing problems, achievable impacts, and sustainability determinants, yet many programmes fail due to limited impacts, premature breakdown, and attitudinal, institutional, and economic barriers, with success hinging on stakeholders’ perception of mutual benefit. The authors aim to propose new programme aims and objectives for impact and sustainability, and to provide long-term recommendations to external support agencies. Drawing on their experiences in Africa and Asia, the authors develop these aims and objectives for use in programme design, monitoring, and evaluation.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sound strategies for community water supply and sanitation programmes in developing countries should be based on (i) a clear understanding of the existing problems, (ii) the beneficial impacts achievable, and (iii) the factors which determine sustainability. The impacts of many water and sanitation programmes are limited, and many systems break down and are abandoned prematurely; only limited impacts are achievable in the short term without greatly increased investment. Sustainability, in the sense of continued delivery and uptake of services, is threatened by numerous attitudinal, institutional and economic factors, and community participation approaches alone are no guarantee of success. The key to sustainability is that all stakeholders involved in consumption/use, maintenance, cost recovery, and continuing support, perceive it in their best interests to deliver high‐quality services. This paper, based upon the authors' experiences in Africa and Asia, proposes new sets of programme aims and objectives in relation to impact and sustainability, which can be used in programme design, monitoring and evaluation. It also makes longer‐term recommendations to external support agencies.