Building blocks
One out of three rural water supply systems in developing countries doesn’t function at all or performs far below its promised level. How do you go from broken pumps and failing systems to reliable and lasting water services?
There are no one-size-fits-all models for change. But we've identified a number of key actions in the shift towards sustainable delivery of water services. These 'building blocks' are described in the table below. Click on the headings for more information and to access additional resources.
| Building blocks for sustainable service delivery | |
| Professionalisation of community management | Community management entities supported to move away from voluntary arrangements towards more professional service provision that is embedded in local and national policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks. |
| Recognition and promotion of alternative service provider options | A range of management options beyond community management, such as self-supply and public-private partnerships, formally recognised in sector policy and supported. |
| Monitoring service delivery and sustainability | Monitoring systems track indicators of infrastructure functionality, service provider performance, and levels of service delivered against nationally agreed norms and standards. |
| Harmonisation and coordination | Improved harmonisation and coordination among donors and government, and alignment of all actors (both government and nongovernment) with national policies and systems. |
| Support to service providers | Structured system of direct (post-construction) support provided to back up and monitor community management entities and other service providers. |
| Capacity support to service authorities | On-going capacity support provided to service authorities (typically local governments) to enable them to fulfil their role (planning, monitoring, regulation, etc.) in sustaining rural water services. |
| Learning and adaptive management | Learning and knowledge management supported at national and decentralised levels to enable the sector to adapt based on experience. |
| Asset management | Systematic planning, inventory updates, and financial forecasting for assets carried out, and asset ownership clearly defined. |
| Regulation of rural services and service providers | Regulation of the service delivered and service provider performance through mechanisms appropriate for small rural operators. |
| Financing to cover all life-cycle costs | Financial frameworks account for all life-cycle costs, especially major capital maintenance, support to service authorities and service providers, monitoring and regulation. |
