This discussion document draws on perspectives of researchers, research users from government and UN agencies, and funders, to reflect on the enabling environment that funders and universities can create to support the translation of research into impact. Areas for funders to focus on to strengthen enabling environments include (1) fostering science-practitioner networks, (2) enhancing collaborative research environments based on equitable partnerships, and (3) shifting financing and incentives to sustain partnerships for impact at scale.
Discussion Brief
Policy and practice recommendations on flood risk management in the Awash basin
In 2020, extreme rainfall triggered massive flooding and severe damage to property in Ethiopia’s Awash river basin. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) examined climatic and non-climatic drivers of this event and its impacts on different social groups. Recommended action points for practitioners and policy makers include institutional design for coordinated flood management and response, collaboration on operational guidance and improved early warning system, revision of studies based on recent science and data, improving access to data for researchers and research-users, integration of indigenous knowledge into flood risk preparedness and research, and strengthening of Awash-flood related research in Ethiopia’s university and higher education institutions. Gender-responsive interventions to flooding are critical.
Opportunities to advance water safety through regulation of rural water services
Despite improved access to water supply systems globally, safe drinking water continues to limit progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6.1. In particular, there is a disparity between access to uncontaminated water in rural and urban areas, with the former significantly lagging behind. In this discussion paper, researchers and practitioners in rural drinking water provision, management and regulation from Bangladesh, Kenya, England and Wales identify key aspects to advance regulation for rural drinking water services.
Gender gaps in sustainable land management and implications for agricultural productivity: Evidence from Ethiopia
This discussion paper looks at whether a large-scale watershed program promoting sustainable land management (SLM) in Ethiopia increases adoption of SLM in male-headed vs female-headed households. Our findings show that the SLM program significantly increased adoption of SLM practices (soil bunds, stone terraces, mulching) in male-headed households but that adoption was centered on jointly owned plots and male-owned plots, with no significant adoption on women-owned plots.
Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
This discussion paper uses a social network approach to examine key actors, challenges and sustainable solutions to manage Lake Beseka, Ethiopia. The study suggests that developing multi-stakeholder partnerships or platforms across most influential and most affected actors could foster the development of more integrated solutions that support the different stakeholders in the lake catchment area and the Awash River Basin.
Empowerment in WASH Index
This brief presents the Empowerment in WASH Index (EWI), a new tool for measuring empowerment in the water, sanitation and health sector, and shows how it has been applied in Burkina Faso.
Designing and delivering research-into-use programmes in the WASH sphere: Experience from SHARE, REACH and the USRI
This Discussion Paper considers the experience of three ongoing research-into-use programmes (REACH, SHARE and USRI), identifying the major challenges they have faced in achieving research uptake, and discussing strategies theyare using (or might use in future) to overcome those challenges.
Resilient options for improving drinking water security in coastal Bangladesh
In this discussion brief the authors present key results from a household survey, a water audit, six focus group discussions and 12 key informant interviews conducted between December 2017 and February 2018 to collect empirical evidence on different aspects of safe and sustainable drinking water services in Polder 29, southwest coastal Bangladesh.
Sustaining safely managed drinking water services in rural schools in Chandpur District, Bangladesh
This discussion brief presents insights from a REACH pilot study which explores the benefits of new, automated data loggers, being installed on handpumps across schools in Chandpur District, Bangladesh. The data will be used to review current institutional design to manage and monitor handpumps so schools and their children can benefit from more reliable water.
