Performance – the right frame for improving access to rural water

supply?

Liquid Dynamics Symposium

Katharina Welle, STEPS/SPRU

23 March 2011

1

CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUNDPart I

Framing

Framings as...What is the origin of macchiato in Ethiopia?

• “metaphors that guide both analysis and action” (Rein & Schoen, 1996)

• Boundaries that include and exclude issues in defining a problem and the solution to it (Mansfield & Haas 2006; Levidow et al 1997)

• Power relations in the context of framing

Framing access to water supply

use

drinking, domestic activities,

wider livelihood activities

socio-political

controlling access,

responsibilities for managing

access

economic

efficient management

affordability

time

gaining, maintaining

access

technical

quantity, quality, distance

CASE STUDY: FRAMING OF ACCESS TO RURAL WATER SUPPLY IN ETHIOPIA

Part II

Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) in Ethiopia

• Concept originated from the private sector

• Introduced in government during the 1980s

• In International Development, PBM embedded in the Aid Effectiveness Agenda

• In Ethiopia, sector reforms towards PBM for water supply sanitation and hygiene ongoing in 2011

Formal Institutions’ framings ofaccess to rural water supply

Definitions of access to rural water supply

Joint Monitoring Programme 20 litres /person/ day, 1km./30 min, WHO quality

Ministry of Water and Energy 15 litres /person/ day, 1.5 km., WHO quality

Woreda Water Office 15 litres /person/ day, 1.5 km., WHO quality

7

use

drinking, domestic activities,

wider livelihood activities

socio-political

controlling access,

responsibilities for managing

access

economic

efficient management

affordability

time

gaining, maintaining

access

technical

quantity, quality, distance

Estimates of access to rural water supply

Estimates of access to rural water supply in Mole kebele, June 2011

Joint Monitoring Programme

not available

Ministry of Water and Energy

94%

Woreda Water Office 63%

People of Mole kebele 1 household, 1 church

Mirab Abaya, SNNP Region, Ethiopia

• 81,608 inhabitants

• Partly highlands, partly lowlands

• More densely populated in lowlands, more water supply schemes in lowlands

Mole Kebele, Mirab Abaya

Population:

4,264 according to health extension workers

5,885 according to CSA projection for 2002

Water supply schemes:

1 Borehole (+ 1 Under Constr)

3 Hand Dug Wells

=> Access coverage between 70% and 94%

Scheme Potentially served

3 HPs 810 (270x3)

1 BH 3313 (3313x1)

Total 4123

Water supply, Mole kebele, Mirab Abaya, Ethiopia

China

MoleUgayu

Water point

Water Point 1

Water Point 2

HPChurch

Zacharias

HP

ShefeRiver

School

TeachersHP

WB WASH

Donkey Carts

WVE

Issues related to access at Hand Pumps

• Non-functionality

• Water quality issues

Issues related to access, Mole China BH

ChinaBono 1 Bono 2

ZachariasSchool

Teachers

China BH

• No service for Ugayo kebelesince 1986/7

• Opening hours; fuel & pump issues, waiting time

• Supervisors manipulate queuing

• Pump operator sells water illegally

Impact on access to water in Mole Kebele

• Users get water from all sources but everyone prefers the borehole

• All people fetch water from all available schemes, with long waiting hours, need to employ alternative strategies

Issues around access from the perspective of Mole kebele residents

use

drinking, domestic activities,

wider livelihood activities

socio-political

controlling access,

responsibilities for managing

access

economic

efficient management

affordability

time

gaining, maintaining

access

technical

quantity, quality, distance