WSS - PRSP Strengthening Design and Delivery of WSS Programmes under PRSPs A collaborative research project WaterAid Malawi and ODI WSSPRSP workshop Kampala February 2004

Water sector status in PRSP Consultative process identified water as a key issue but was not prioritised in PRSP Consultative process identified water as a key issue but was not prioritised in PRSP Failure of stakeholders to champion sector Failure of stakeholders to champion sector Sectoral priorities not sufficiently represented Sectoral priorities not sufficiently represented Little sense of sectoral ownership over resulting PRSP Little sense of sectoral ownership over resulting PRSP

Design - Capacity of decentralised government to plan Despite major sector reviews – progress in institutionalising reforms has been slow Despite major sector reviews – progress in institutionalising reforms has been slow Capacity for planning and co-ordination between line ministries remains weak Capacity for planning and co-ordination between line ministries remains weak MoWD remains highly centralised MoWD remains highly centralised Sector stakeholders currently ill-equipped to take on new roles and responsibilities Sector stakeholders currently ill-equipped to take on new roles and responsibilities Extensive capacity building and training required at different administrative levels Extensive capacity building and training required at different administrative levels

Co-ordination around District level plans NGOs & Donors fail to inform district water authorities of their:NGOs & Donors fail to inform district water authorities of their: - project plans -operational policies & guidelines -Target areas Practice is chaotic re gov. policy of demand responsive approachPractice is chaotic re gov. policy of demand responsive approach Different providers have different expectations from communities, which can be confusingDifferent providers have different expectations from communities, which can be confusing

SUSTAINABILITY

Why poor sustainability? The surface reasons - Financial management within the community Lack of access to technical skills Spare parts availability The deeper reasons – Lack of demand Lack of ownership Lack of leadership Dependency

EQUITY

Why the inequity? No co-ordination between actors No co-ordination between actors Weak lower levels of government Weak lower levels of government Passive attitude within District Assembly Passive attitude within District Assembly NGOs feel accountable to donors - rush NGOs feel accountable to donors - rush Politics : favouritisms and dependency Politics : favouritisms and dependency Cultural blockages and poor leadership Cultural blockages and poor leadership Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting Uncontrolled drillers + bad advice Uncontrolled drillers + bad advice Alleged corruption Alleged corruption