A socio-material analysis of rural water supply performance in Africa

MacAllister, Donald John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8893-9634; Whaley, L.; Nedaw, D.; Kebede, S.; Tadesse, Y.; Mwathunga, E.; Mkandawire, T.; Makuluni, P.; Shaba, C.; Banda, S.; Okullo, J.; Owor, M.; Fallas, H.; Clever, F.; MacDonald, A.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6636-1499. 2024 A socio-material analysis of rural water supply performance in Africa. [Speech] In: World Groundwater Congress IAH 2024 Davos, Davos, Switzerland, 8-13 Sept 2024.

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Official URL: https://www.iah2024davos.org/

Abstract/Summary

The poor performance of rural water supplies has been a persistent problem over the last forty years. Many studies look at the issue from a single disciplinary perspective. More recently, there has been an attempt to consider the issues within a systems dynamic framework which brings together social and physical data, often based on large n studies with a broad focus and at large scale. In the Hidden Crisis project that took place in Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi between 2016 and 2022 we examined rural handpump (HP) borehole performance using both a broad assessment of functionality (n = 600) and a deep dive into the underlying social and physical factors that determine a range of performance (downtime, failure) and response (repair) outcomes (n = 150). Our studies were interdisciplinary and involved teams of physical and social scientists working together to understand how physical (e.g. hydrogeology, climate), technical (e.g. materials, construction) and social (e.g. community dynamics, maintenance, leadership) factors combine to determine performance outcomes. Firstly, we developed a functionality framework which considered both yield and downtime of HP and used this framework to assess the physical functionality of 200 HP boreholes. We also assessed the status of water committees across the three countries using a random stratified sampling approach. Next, we conducted an in-depth investigation the hydrogeology, HP components, borehole, and community dynamics. This second phase involved detailed hydrogeological assessment (e.g. pumping tests), technical assessment (e.g. corrosion, pump condition) and the use of social science methods (e.g. focus groups, interviews). We will present the results of this work which demonstrate the importance of hydrogeology and the complexity of the relationship between physical and social factors. We will reflect on the challenges of this type of interdisciplinary study and consider the implications for rural water supply in Africa.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Speech)
Additional Pages:	Session 3.02. Developing groundwater for drinking water and sustainable livelihoods for low-income communities
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology
Date made live:	18 Sep 2024 09:03 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538032

Item Type:

Publication - Conference Item (Speech)

Additional Pages:

Session 3.02. Developing groundwater for drinking water and sustainable livelihoods for low-income communities

Additional Keywords:

GroundwaterBGS

NORA Subject Terms:

Hydrology

Date made live:

18 Sep 2024 09:03 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538032