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Draft:Rural Water Supply Network

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RWSN logo

The Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) is a global, multi-stakeholder network focused on on achieving universal access to safe, affordable drinking water for all rural people worldwide. Established in 1992 as the Handpump Technology Network (HTN),[1][2] the organization originally concentrated on the development and maintenance of handpump technologies. Over time, it expanded its scope to address broader rural water supply issues, and in 2004, it was rebranded as RWSN.[3] The network has no legal structure and instead is a loose collaboration. It has over 13,000 members in 168 countries (as of 2021) from diverse sectors, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutions, and private companies.[4] An independent evaluation of RWSN in 2017 found that: "the RWSN has been described to be the prime network that supports scale up of rural water supply for practitioners".[5]: 3  RWSN is not a campaigning or lobbying organisation.

RWSN's operates on the principles of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. It facilitates the exchange of expertise and experiences among its members. The network is organized into various thematic groups, each focusing on specific aspects of rural water supply, such as sustainable groundwater development, self-supply, and the professionalization of community water management. The activities of RWSN are designed for knowledge sharing and networking. For example, RWNS runs webinars, facilitates online discussion communities and publishes peer-reviewed guidelines and case studies.[4] It also hosts the public domain standards for various hand pumps, including the Afridev[6] and India Mark II.[7]

RWSN's governance structure includes an Executive Steering Committee, which provide strategic direction and oversight. The network's secretariat is hosted by the Skat Foundation in Switzerland, which coordinates day-to-day operations and supports the activities of the thematic groups. Funding for RWSN comes from a combination of membership fees, grants from international donors, and contributions from partner organizations. The RWSN secretariat had income for the period 2018-2020 from 15 sources of partner contributions and project funding. The largest single contribution (30%) was from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).[4] The secretariat complements its core funds with project based work.[5]: 4 

By fostering a global community dedicated to rural water supply, RWSN plays an important role in advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Aims and mission

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See also: WASH

The aim of RWSN is "to improve the quality of rural water services and their management".[8] The mission of the network is worded as follows: "RWSN is a convening space for individual professionals and organisations to collaborate, develop guidelines and standards, curate knowledge, and promote lifelong learning in the rural water sector."[8]

A network such as RWSN is needed because millions of people in rural Africa have no access to safe drinking water (an estimate in 2016 put the figure at 300 million people in rural Africa).[9]

Activities

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Key activities of RWSN include the development of technical guidelines and standards, the dissemination of research findings, the promotion of innovative technologies and approaches.[4] RWSN also organises international conferences, workshops as well as online events such as webinars. The network also engages in advocacy efforts to influence policy and practice at local, national, and international levels. Through its work, RWSN aims to address the challenges faced by rural communities, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited financial resources, and the impacts of climate change on water availability.

RWSN regularly runs activities around knowledge sharing and networking. In the period 2018–2020 these included:[4]

  • Webinars in English, French and Spanish on topic relating to rural water supply and WASH (water supply, sanitation and hygiene). For example, the World Bank and RWSN ran their first joint webinar series in 2012.[10]
  • Online discussion communities.
  • Publishing peer-reviewed guidelines and case studies.
  • Young Professional Mentoring
  • Hosting the public domain standards for various hand pumps, including the Afridev[6] and India Mark II.[7]

RWSN publishes joint publications with large organisations such as the World Bank. For example, in 2019 there was a World Bank–Skat Foundation collaboration for the RWSN on the topic of "Innovations in rural water supply sustainability".[11]

RWSN provides a platform for raising awareness around chronic failures in water supply systems. The platform also supports activities around research and drilling professionalisation and new service delivery models.[12][13]

Connections with research programs

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RWSN acts as a knowledge broker between researchers and policy and practice, for example for the research programme "Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor" (UpGro). This was a "7-year research programme funded by the United Kingdom that aimed to improve the evidence and understanding of groundwater across Sub-Saharan Africa to help tackle poverty".[14] There are opportunities and risks of using groundwater across Africa to benefit the continent's poorest people.[15]

Organising global conferences

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Every five years, RWSN organises the only global conference dedicated to rural water supply, called the RWSN Forum. So far, there have been seven RWSN Forums. All of them, except for one in India, took place in Sub-Saharan Africa. The most recent was the 7th RWSN Forum in Abidjan, co-hosted by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire, in 2016.[16][17][18] It was opened by the then Prime Minister Kablan Duncan.[19] One of the main sponsors of the event was the African Development Bank through its Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI).[20]

The RWSN Forum before that (the 6th RWSN Forum) took place in Uganda in 2011.[21] The 5th RWSN Forum was in Ghana in 2006[22], the 4th Forum in South Africa in 2003 (called 4th International HTN Forum),[23] the 3rd International HTN Forum in India in 1997, the 2nd HTN Workshop in Malawi also in 1997. The first one, called The International Handpump Workshop, was in Kenya in 1992.[1][24]

The 8th RWSN Forum in 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there has been no further RWSN Forum since then.

Structure

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Secretariat

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The secretariat is currently (as of 2024) hosted by Skat Foundation in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It coordinates and runs the network activities, in partnership with theme leaders and under the supervision and guidance of the executive steering committee. The hosting is reviewed every three years. So far, the secretariat has always been hosted by Skat Foundation.[3]

Themes and theme leaders

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There are currently six themes, each with one or several team leaders from various organisations.[25] Theme leaders are volunteers, or paid by their employers, to assist with running RWSN networking, training and knowledge exchange activities. Theme leads are very important to RWSN’s activities.[5]: 4  As of 2024, the themes of RWSN include:[25]

  1. Leave no-one behind (realisation of human rights to water and sanitation for the most marginalised people); led by Simavi, Water Youth Network Nigeria, and WaterAid
  2. Mapping & monitoring; led by WaterAid, University of North Carolina (UNC), and Baseflow Malawi
  3. Multiple use water services (MUS) (most rural people in low- and middle income countries are also farmers and need water for their livelihoods as well as their household health and wellbeing); led by Skat Consulting and International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
  4. Self-supply of water and sanitation; led by Skat Foundation[26]
  5. Sustainable groundwater development; led by Ask for Water GmbH and Water Mission
  6. Sustainable services (rural water supply services need to be adequately financed, meet country service delivery standards, are managed and supported by capacitated service providers and service authorities); led by UNICEF, Aguaconsult

Executive steering committee

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The network is governed by an executive steering committee. This committee consists of organisations that are "significant global actors in supporting rural water supply and that have demonstrated their commitment to RWSN activities".[27] The organisations that make up the steering committee have been changing over time and currently consist of the following seven organisations: African Development Bank, IRC, SDC, Skat Foundation, UNICEF, WaterAid, The World Bank.[28]: 15   

A statement by World Bank in 2012 explained how World Bank is related to RWSN: "The World Bank and WSP are executive partner organizations of RWSN" along with others.[10] There is ongoing cooperation between World Bank and RWSN.[11]

The current chair is Tommy Ka Kit Ngai from WaterAid. Previous chairs included Louisa Gosling (WaterAid), Kelly Ann Naylor (UNICEF), Ton Schouten (IRC WASH), Richard Carter (WaterAid, later independent).[3]

Members

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Membership for individuals and organisations is free and not time-limited. RWSN has over 13,000 members in 168 countries (as of 2021).[4] Membership fees are not mandatory but donations are encouraged.

Affiliations and partnerships

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RWSN has been a UN-Water Partner since 2020.[29][3] Furthermore, RWSN is a strategic network of the SDC Global Programme Water.[30][citation needed]

RWSN is a strategic partner of UNICEF on providing guidance for water supply, sanitation and hygiene programmes on practical implementation of topics like Leave No-one Behind[31] and water well drilling professionalization.[32]

In 2021, RWSN became one of the implementing partners in the programme "Rural Evidence and Learning for Water (REAL-Water)" which is funded by USAID and led by Aquaya.[3][33]

Since 2022 RWSN is in a new partnership with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The aim is "to support networking and knowledge sharing within Latin America and South-South exchange with Africa and Asia".[3] This is part of a project called "Sustainable and Innovative Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene" (SIRWASH).[34][35]

Funding sources

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The RWSN secretariat had income for the period 2018-2020 from 15 sources of partner contributions and project funding. The largest single contribution (30%) was from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).[4] The secretariat complements its core funds with project based work.[5]: 4  One sellable service is that of being a knowledge broker.[5]: 5 

There is significant in-kind support of the network through its governance structures, such as the executive steering committee.[5]: 4 

RWSN has been able to "attract regular funding from WaterAid, Skat Consulting Ltd. and World Vision Switzerland (2012-2016)".[5]: 9 

Impacts

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A statement from IRC (IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre) from 2016 highlighted some of the impacts that the activities of RWSN can have: "RWSN [...] shows the power of peer-to-peer learning and can support further thinking on hot topics that emerged during these days: decentralisation, professionalisation and technical support, tariff setting, monitoring systems, PPPs, adaptation to climate change, [...]. RWSN can move the agenda forward on these issues."[36] One of the achievements of RWSN is that it strengthens the skills of professionals in the rural water sector.[36]

A similar statement on impacts was published in an independent evaluation in 2017 which said that RWSN is not expected to achieve impact in itself directly, but "it can indirectly contribute to impacts, by enhancing the skills and knowledge of the key actors in the sector, so that they can improve sector performance."[5]: 3 

RWSN coined the term "Self-supply" to raise awareness of scale of household investments in rural water supply, such as through rainwater harvesting and private boreholes.[37] RWSN continues to disseminate information on self-supply in African countries.[26]

An independent evaluation of RWSN in 2017 found that: "The RWSN is a highly competent, advanced community-building network which connects people who would likely not have been connected before and disseminates valuable knowledge to its members, which can be applied to practice."[5]: 2  It also stated that "the RWSN has been described to be the prime network that supports scale up of rural water supply for practitioners".[5]: 3 

Challenges

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An independent evaluation in 2017 highlighted challenges with funding the network in the future (a common challenge for many networks)[5]: 4 : "RWSN should continue looking to diversify its funding from a diverse range of sources, including donor, public and private funds and potentially in the future, from upgraded services".[5]: 10 

Specific and direct criticisms of the RWSN are not documented in the public domain. However, like many organizations involved in international development, RWSN has faced challenges that are often discussed within the context of the broader rural water supply sector. Research articles often critique the broader sector in which RWSN operates.[11] These critiques can indirectly reflect on RWSN's approaches and effectiveness. For example, studies discussing the sustainability of handpump technologies or community-led water supply initiatives may highlight challenges that are relevant to RWSN’s work.[38][citation needed]

An Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) of the AfDB in 2016 summed up the challenges in the rural water supply sector as follows: "The main challenges and constraints facing rural water supply services include inadequate policy and institutional frameworks, inadequate investments, inefficient management, inadequate capacity, poor cost recovery, and financial sustainability,"[9] These challenges were discussed at the 7th RWSN Forum in Abidjan.[9]

History

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The network was founded as the Handpump Technology Network (HTN) after The International Handpump Workshop in Kakamega, Kenya in 1992.[1][2][24] It was initially a working group for hand pump technology. HTN was renamed the Rural Water Supply Network in 2004.[3]

At the Fourth RWSN Forum in Durban in 2003[39] a decision was made that RWSN would focus its work on three key areas: self-supply, cost-effective boreholes and sustainable handpumps.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c UNDP-World Bank (1992). "The International Handpump Workshop Kakamega, Kenya, 1992". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  2. ^ a b Skat (1993). "Handpump Technology Network (HTN) and Interagency Peer Group (IAG)". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "History - Rural Water Supply Network". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g RWSN (2021). "RWSN 2018-2020 3-Year Overview, visual executive summary". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 30 Aug 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l PEMconsult (2017) The 2017 Rural Water Supply Network evaluation. L'évaluation du Rural Water Supply Network de 2017
  6. ^ a b "Implementation • Handpump Technology Afridev". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  7. ^ a b "Implementation • Handpump Technology India Mark II". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  8. ^ a b "Vision and Mission - Rural Water Supply Network". rural-water-supply.net. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  9. ^ a b c AfDB (2016) Major rural water supply conference underway in Abidjan with AfDB’s support, African Development Bank
  10. ^ a b "Sharing Global Knowledge on Sustainable Rural Water Supply". World Bank. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  11. ^ a b c World Bank and Skat Foundation (2019) Innovations in rural water supply sustainability
  12. ^ Purvis, Katherine (22 March 2016). "How do you solve a problem like a broken water pump?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  13. ^ Carter, Richard C. (2021-05-15). Rural Community Water Supply. PRACTICAL ACTION PUBLISHING. ISBN 978-1-78853-168-9.
  14. ^ "UPGro". UPGro. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  15. ^ Villholth, Karen G. (13 Aug 2019). "Look underground for climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa". news.trust.org. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  16. ^ Hierro, Lola (5 Dec 2016). "Ideas e inventos para que, sea donde sea, tengamos agua". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  17. ^ Hierro, Lola (1 Dec 2016). "13 consejos de nuestros ancestros para aprovechar mejor el agua". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  18. ^ Esipisu, Isaiah (1 Dec 2016). "WATER FINANCING: Only countries with professional rural water projects will benefit from AfDB". www.pamacc.org. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  19. ^ news.abidjan.net (30 Nov 2016). "La Côte d'Ivoire, premier pays africain francophone à accueillir un Forum international sur l'accès à l'eau potable (in French)". Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  20. ^ ADB (2016) RWSSI Supports RWSN Forum in RWSSI Newsletter - December 2016
  21. ^ "6th Rural Water Supply Network Forum". RWSN. 2011. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  22. ^ RWSN (2006) Proceedings of the 5th RWSN Forum 2006 Ghana. Scaling up Local Entrepreneurship in Rural Water Supply to meet the MDGs , Skat Foundation, MWRWH , RWSN , St Gallen, Switzerland
  23. ^ JONES, J. (2003) Proceedings of the 4th International HTN Forum 2003. Strengthening the Rural Water Supply Network, RWSN (incl. HTN) , St Gallen, Switzerland
  24. ^ a b c Baumann, Erich; Carter, Richard (2006). "The Rural Water Supply Network". Waterlines. 25 (1): 2–3. doi:10.3362/0262-8104.2006.030. ISSN 1756-3488.
  25. ^ a b RWSN (2020). "RWSN Strategy 2018-2023. La stratégie RWSN 2018-2023 , RWSN , Skat Foundation, St. Gallen, Switzerland". Rural Water Supply Network. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  26. ^ a b André Olschewski (2016) Review of Self-supply and its support services in African countries With findings from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) and Skat Foundation.
  27. ^ RWSN (2023) RWSN Governance Protocol 2023-2025. RWSN library
  28. ^ RWSN (2023) RWSN Annual Report 2022.
  29. ^ "Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN)". UN-Water. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  30. ^ "Water – A vital resource under threat". www.eda.admin.ch. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  31. ^ UNICEF (2021). "Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: A guidance note for leaving no one behind". www.unicef.org. p. 63.
  32. ^ Danert K., Gesti Canuto J. (2016) Professional Water Well Drilling. A UNICEF Guidance Note, Unicef , Skat Foundation
  33. ^ "Rural Evidence and Learning for Water (project page)". Globalwaters.org (USAID). Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Sustainable and Innovative Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (SIRWASH) - Phase 1". SDC project database. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  35. ^ Various (2023) SIRWASH Webinar Series. Webinar series of the SIRWASH Programme (Sustainable and Innovative Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) , RWSN library
  36. ^ a b Smits, Stef (3 December 2016). "Progress in going from Abidjan to Abidjan. We cannot do it alone. Reflections from the 7th Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) Forum". IRC blog (www.ircwash.org). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  37. ^ Sutton, Sally; Butterworth, John (2021). Self-Supply. PRACTICAL ACTION PUBLISHING. ISBN 978-1-78044-819-0.
  38. ^ Crawford, Russell (30 June 2018). "What USAID, SKAT, RWSN and UNICEF don't do, costs human life". Blog post on LinkedIn. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  39. ^ JONES, J. (2003) Proceedings of the 4th International HTN Forum 2003. Strengthening the Rural Water Supply Network , RWSN (incl. HTN) , St Gallen, Switzerland
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Category:Sustainability Category:Water organizations Category:Water and the environment Category:Water supply

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