May 2022 Quarterly Update
Recreation on the Senegal river banks, Kayes, Mali. Credit: Emeline Hassenforder.
The most recent phase of the programme has brought several key milestones, as partners deepen their research and apply learning from the field.
Global Evidence Review
The five-part webinar series we organised on part three of the global evidence review - exploring insights on gender, role of donors, government response, measuring accountability, and closing civic space - has now concluded.
We had excellent attendance from water professionals, academic researchers, government officials, and private sector representatives in over 40 countries. The series featured fantastic contributions from PRFs and NAG members sharing relevant experiences on their research in each theme, and sparked lively discussion. Each session was accompanied by the publication of a summary briefing note, and an adapted version of the global evidence review has been accepted for the peer-reviewed journal H2Open.
PRF research
Data collection is in its final stages for Professional Research Fellows across Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and other selected regions. Key informant interviews with representatives from government, impacted communities, and private water utilities have generated many useful insights into drafted field reports that have been submitted for review. PRFs are preparing for the programme’s very first in person gathering (long delayed by the pandemic), a writing retreat convened in Arusha, Tanzania to mentor PRFs and ensure the deliver of high quality research to inform and guide future policy.
Cross-country research
Data collection for cross country research is now well underway. In Ethiopia, over 650 household surveys have been completed, and data collection is progressing well in terms of scope and quality. In Kenya, sample sites have been selected and data collection is scheduled to proceed this week. In Tanzania, permits are in place and ready for data collection to commence.
World Water Week 2022
We have had our session proposal for World Water Week 2022 accepted, and will be developing content with partners over the coming week. The session, ‘Accountability: The unseen enabler of good water governance’ will showcase original findings of PRF investigations. It will examine how strengthened accountability can improve relationships between rights holders and duty bearers, ensure citizen participation, and uphold the universal right to water and sanitation.
PRF profile: Mable Murambiwa, Harare Combined Residents Association
Assessing the effectiveness and impact of statutory accountability mechanisms in Zimbabwe.
Mable’s research focuses on statutory accountability mechanisms. She aims to evaluate how effectively the law can be mobilised to improve access to water for domestic purposes, and identify the key governance processes that impact provision. Her analysis also considers gender dynamics, examining the factors that influence women’s participation in accountability initiatives relating to WASH and water catchment management.
Her preliminary findings show that:
The introduction of a human rights framework has had a positive influence on court judgements relating to WASH service provision and catchment management. This has improved water supply and changed decision-making practices among duty bearers and state institutions.
Citizen initiatives to petition parliament have had some success in stimulating accountability, but the process is too technical for ordinary citizen's and marred by class inequalities. This is especially the case in catchment management, where the perpetrators of environmental harm tend to be well connected, politically powerful elites. The fear of victimisation reduces the uptake of statutory accountability mechanisms by economically marginalised urban residents.
Statutory accountability has effectively triggered some changes to the policies and practices of Harare’s municipal authorities. The City of Harare is now in the process of aligning its bylaws with the provisions of the constitution, and no longer makes arbitrary disconnections.
Upcoming events
We have a pan-African civil society gathering on 12-13th June (online), in preparation for the Umoja ni Nguvu civil society summit that will take place in Arusha, Tanzania, later this year. The event will be an opportunity to bring together learning and strengthen actions towards a fair water future.
You can read the full report here.