OR/16/044 Summary
| Wilson P, Bonsor H C, MacDonald A M, Whaley L, Carter R C, Casey V. 2016. UPGRO Hidden Crisis Research consortium: initial project approach for assessing rural water supply functionality and levels of performance. British Geological Survey (BGS) Open Report, OR/16/044. |
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Taking the findings from the literature review, the discussions with partners at our project workshop, and developing thinking from an earlier paper (Carter and Ross 2016)[1], the Hidden Crisis project has set out a tiered framework approach for assessing functionality, and levels of performance. The results of the first survey phase of the project — a rapid survey of 600 hand‐pump boreholes supplies across the three countries — will be used to inform the final approach proposed by the project to assess HPB functionality, and the requisite suite indicators.
The tiered framework approach to defining functionality, and required assessment indicators have clear linkage to the work of recent research projects examining service delivery (Triple‐S 2009[2], Cross et al. 2013[3], Tincani 2015[4]). These have been focused more to assessing the operational sustainability, life‐cycle costs, and the service level provided by water supplies, and the cost efficiency and effectiveness of WASH investments. The Hidden Crisis project can contribute to these by providing robust definitions and assessments of the physical water point functionality and performance, which can be used to compare with users experience and perception of service. This will provide clarity to functionality data, and enable a systematic evidence base to develop to more informed opinions and policies for WASH investment.
The survey 1 functionality dataset will be used to address several key research questions by Hidden Crisis. These include, but are not limited to:
- what impact do different definitions of functionality and the standards against which they are assessed have on measured rates of functionality and performance?
- what impact does inclusion of water quality have on measured HPB functionality? (i.e. how does the number of HPBs categorised as functional change)
- and, can a score of functionality and performance be developed, which can be simplified to a simple binary assessment when needed?
Using the understanding developed, the definitions, indicators and assessment methods proposed in this report will be reviewed and refined by the Hidden Crisis project.
References
- ↑ Carter, R, Ross, I. (2016). Beyond 'Functionality' of handpump‐supplied rural water services in developing countries. Waterlines, 35(1) 94–110.
- ↑ Triple‐S. (2009). Providing reliable rural water services that last. Triple‐S Briefing Note, November 2009, pp5
- ↑ Cross, P, Frade, J, James, A J, Trémolet, S. (2013). WASH Cost End‐of‐Project Evaluation. IRC End‐of‐Project Evaluation Report.
- ↑ Tincani, L, Ross, I, Zaman, R, Burr, P, Mujica, A, and Evans, B. (2015). Regional assessment of the operational sustainability of water and sanitation services in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Report by VFM‐ WASH.