Rainfall patterns influence water usage and revenue from user payments in rural Africa. The authors explore these dynamics by examining monthly rainfall against 4,888 records of rural piped water revenue in Ghana, Rwanda, and Uganda and quantifying revenue changes over 635 transitions between dry and wet seasons.
Research theme
Evaluation of System-Level, Passive Chlorination in Gravity-Fed Piped Water Systems in Rural Nepal
This article presents a nonrandomized evaluation of two passive chlorination technologies for system-level water treatment in use in western Nepal. Our findings suggest that whilst safe storage, service delivery models, and reliable supply chains are required, passive chlorination technologies have the potential to radically improve rural household access to safely managed water.
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.
Observations of the Turkana Jet and the East African Dry Tropics
This article presents research from a field campaign in northwest Kenya on the Turkana Low Level jet, an intrinsic part of the African climate system and principle method of water vapor transport to the African interior from the Indian Ocean. Measured for the first time in 40 years, this dataset presents new evidence on the Turkana jet, and creates an opportunity to better understand regional dynamics in one of the most data-sparse regions in the world.
Incentivizing clean water collection during rainfall to reduce disease in rural sub-Saharan Africa with weather dependent pricing
This article proposes a new pricing mechanism for ‘water ATMs’, made possible with pre-payment and remote sensing, where prices adjust during rainy seasons to incentivise the continued use of clean water sources. The authors estimate cost per capita and cost per disability-adjusted life year averted, resulting in values which compare favourably with other water quality interventions.
Modular, adaptive, and decentralised water infrastructure: promises and perils for water justice
This review summarises emerging realities for water insecurity in an era of disruption, and new developments that the authors call modular, adaptive, and decentralised (MAD) water infrastructure. These decentralised models require a justice-oriented framework to unlock the promise of sustainable access to safe, reliable, affordable water supply for a more mobile, just, and resilient world.
Addressing socio-economic inequalities in Lodwar and broader Turkana
This report details outcomes from a workshop in Turkana, Kenya, on ‘Socio-economic aspects of flash floods, water and climate’, held in February 2022. The workshop discussed how water and flood risks relate to socio-economic inequalities, as well as critical gender and intersectionality considerations.
Negotiating spaces of marginality and independence: On women entrepreneurs within Ethiopian urbanization and water precarity
This research article analyses how women strive for and negotiate their independence through spatiality, and how services, specifically water, affect their ability to develop their business spaces. Using evidence from five studies conducted in the small town of Wukro, Ethiopia, the paper suggests water struggles should be analysed not only through the evaluation of water shortages and unequal geographical sectorization but also through the perspective of ‘water precarity’ (Sultana, 2020).
Climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene and resilience: a briefing paper from SWA Research and Learning Constituency
This brief was prepared by the SWA Research and Learning constituency in support of the 2022 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM) ‘Building Forward Better for Recovery and Resilience.’ It seeks to make available the latest research evidence on climate change, resilience and water, sanitation and hygiene for the preparatory processes leading up to the SMM and to support evidence-based follow-up action.
