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Securing a conducive environment for WASH markets: the role of local government
01.01.2020
Local governments play critical, yet under-recognized, roles in supporting or constraining the development of emerging water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) markets. The focus of market approaches to date has been primarily on small-scale businesses and social enterprises themselves, rather than on addressing the broader institutional environment. This study, drawing on experiences in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, examined the political economy affecting support to WASH market actors, including the perspective and role of local governments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with rural water supply enterprises and sanitation entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, and government officials. Qualitative analysis yielded key themes as regards political economy dynamics and identification of a breadth of pertinent roles for local governments. This study formed part of a larger research initiative funded through the Australian aid programme, focused on small-scale enterprise and led by the University of Technology Sydney. The findings demonstrate important local government roles, including: training and business development support to enterprises; linking demand and supply by promoting local enterprises; supporting associations of entrepreneurs; providing targeted subsidies or financing to catalyse private sector engagement or to facilitate access for the poor and disadvantaged; and setting and monitoring quality standards and accreditation of products and services. In particular, balancing an enabling or supporting role with the need to ensure appropriate regulatory functions are in place provided a point of tension (and sometimes confusion) for local governments. Key motivators driving local government engagement with enterprises included coverage targets. Various constraints limited their support, including lack of clarity on their role, availability of relevant skills, and perceptions that WASH market systems and private sector engagement should arise spontaneously. These findings inform gaps in development agency programming when it comes to WASH markets in terms of the need to work more strategically with local government actors, rather than solely directing efforts towards enterprises themselves. This study suggests a way forward in progressing more systemic interventions to support WASH markets in ways that facilitate local governments and related stakeholders to play more effective roles and achieve greater and more equitable development outcomes. -
A framework for exploring gender equality outcomes from WASH programmes
01.10.2013
This paper aims to assist practitioners and researchers in planning, identifying, and documenting gender outcomes associated with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programmes by proposing a conceptual framework for classifying gender equality changes. Gender outcomes that have been attributed to WASH initiatives encompass those directly related to improved services as well as outcomes that move into areas of relationships, power, and status. There is a growing body of literature identifying WASH-related gender outcomes; however the types of outcomes described vary considerably and further work is needed to inform a comprehensive picture of WASH and gender links. The framework proposed in this paper is based on a synthesis of outcomes reported in WASH literature to date, empirical research in Fiji and Vanuatu, and insights from gender and development literature. It is hoped that the framework will support practitioners to engage with the inherent complexity of gender inquiry, contributing to sector knowledge about the potential for WASH initiatives to advance gender equality.