Synthesis of Existing Knowledge and Experience on the Provision of ...

• Water interventions selected should ideally be familiar to local communities <strong>and</strong> within theirunderst<strong>and</strong>ing. If designed <strong>and</strong> constructed beyond the underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> users, they are notlikely to be sustainable.• Promote the contribution <strong>of</strong> cash <strong>and</strong>/or labour to the construction or rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> waterpoints. This is to enhance community commitment to maintaining the water point <strong>and</strong> ensuringthat it is sustainable beyond the lifetime <strong>of</strong> the project.Management• Establish clear <strong>and</strong> equitable management systems for water points. Unless this point is tackledfrom the outset <strong>of</strong> the project, it is likely that the water point will be vulnerable to breakage ormisuse.• Assist communities to establish water management committees (or variations there<strong>of</strong>),representative <strong>of</strong> all groups with a stake in the development. This should include women, <strong>and</strong>non-pastoral groups (e.g. immigrants, Internally Displaced Persons, refugees). Committeesshould help define <strong>and</strong> manage water interventions. Management includes operation <strong>and</strong>maintenance <strong>and</strong> members should receive adequate training to perform these tasks.• Build on <strong>and</strong> strengthen existing customary resource management systems. These systems <strong>of</strong>tenprovide a tried <strong>and</strong> tested context <strong>and</strong> culture appropriate approach to water management,which helps diffuse/avoid conflict over water. Practitioners should build on these benefits ratherthan import new systems external to the pastoral context. Therefore, ensuring that customaryinstitutions are represented on the above committees 64 (especially for new water points) isimportant to make sure that all needs <strong>and</strong> concerns are taken on board <strong>and</strong> to maximize benefitfrom indigenous knowledge.• To avoid misuse <strong>of</strong> the water point it is imperative that the water management committeeshould be seen by the wider community as a credible entity which represents all user groups,including pastoralists <strong>and</strong> non-pastoralists as well as vulnerable groups <strong>and</strong> women. Thiscommittee should also be expected to report on progress to the wider community <strong>and</strong> to localgovernment.2) Implementation• Encourage the use <strong>of</strong> traditional systems designs for which local materials <strong>and</strong> constructionknow-how are available.• Take into consideration the technical capacity required to operate <strong>and</strong> maintain water points, aswell as spare part availability when choosing technologies. Especially in remote areas, access toexternal technical assistance, construction materials <strong>and</strong> spare parts may be limited.Training• Involve <strong>and</strong> train local community members (e.g. water management committee members <strong>and</strong>local artisans) in construction, management <strong>and</strong> maintenance to embed capacity at the locallevel.3) Sustainability64 A combination <strong>of</strong> formal management committees <strong>and</strong> customary institutions is recommended, as the latteron its own may not reflect the full constituency in an area <strong>and</strong> may not be representative <strong>of</strong> non-pastoralgroups (Muir, 2007),84