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Scaling up the community management of rural water supply
01.10.2004
Community management must mature from being an NGOor donor-driven model, based on time-bound pilot projects. Instead, under the leadership of government, it must encompass scaled-up delivery of water supply services, with community institutions governing and operating their systems, supported by local and national government structures. -
Effective WASH sector adaptation to climate change through improved governance
01.07.2009
Over the past year, discussions have being going on within the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector on the possible implications of climate change on services provisions, and the practical adaptation measures that could or should be taken by the sector. Although not conclusive, two important points of agreement have emerged as a result of these discussions. First, climate change predictions are characterized by high levels of uncertainty, particularly at the spatial scales at which most decisions on WASH services provision are made. Second, while it should be taken very seriously, climate change is not the only, and probably not the most important, factor to consider in the short and medium term. This paper argues that the most effective approach to adaptation is to strengthen governance of the WASH sector, for example by adopting principles of adaptive management and by using tools such as scenario building as an integral part of decision-making. In addition, it calls for better embedding of WASH services provision within an integrated water resource management framework.