Why linking processes might deliver improved WASH

Published on: 11/06/2013

Exploring the links between monitoring learning and capacity development

 

Continuous joint monitoring needs strengthening so that it contributes to building the capacities of sector stakeholders to make water and sanitation services reach everyone and keep working.

The session we organised at UNESCO-IHE’s symposium last month provided an opportunity to reflect on the potential links between monitoring, learning and capacity development. We looked into the experience of developing a country-wide system for monitoring rural water supplies in Uganda and in Honduras.

Over the course of ten years, Uganda has developed a monitoring system that feeds into planning, coordination and capacity development. In Honduras the monitoring system is still a work in progress. However, there is already evidence of learning, capacity development and better post-construction support, all crucial for keeping the water flowing.

How does WASH monitoring contribute to building sector capacities and improving service delivery?

Both cases demonstrate the potential of monitoring for sector improvement. Better service delivery requires that people systematically learn about what works and what doesn't, so that they can improve. Capacity support so that they can do their jobs better is also crucial. At IRC’s Monitoring Symposium in April this year a range of related lessons about monitoring emerged:

Monitoring is:

• A means to an end, not an end in itself:  It’s about enabling people to take action that ensures water and sanitation services reach everyone and last forever.
• A process. In developing a monitoring system, you need to build on existing capacities and consider resources needed.

Monitoring requires:

• Cooperation and trust among a range of stakeholder and trust to support critical reflection.
• Transparency and commitment to change.

There is no one- size-fits-all monitoring solution; flexibility and realism are needed.

Capacity development: requirement and result of monitoring

The process of collection, joint systematic reflection and analysis requires capacities. If well-facilitated it can empower people to be more competent at analysing and presenting the data, and more articulate in communicating this information and advocating for action. Community groups can also use monitoring to hold service providers and politicians accountable about their investment priorities. In both Uganda and Honduras, users’ feedback is included in the monitoring system.

The cases of Honduras and Uganda show that WASH service delivery monitoring has potential for strengthening capacity in the sector for:

• better targeting of post-construction support so that facilities that are constructed continue to function.
• developing policy and strategies, based on sound evidence, good practices and innovations.

Capacity needs can be identified for each step in the monitoring process, from deciding what to measure and how, to data collection and to using the data for action.

Learning from monitoring journeys travelled by others

The purposes of monitoring WASH service delivery are as diverse as the number of stakeholders involved. Different countries have different monitoring journeys, but there is potential to learn from each other.

Key lessons about developing a country-wide monitoring system are:

• Build on existing monitoring systems and practices even if incomplete/not perfect.
• Keep monitoring simple, relevant and action-oriented; develop a system that is realistic given existing capacities and monitoring systems.
• Consider how information flows upwards and downwards: feedback from users on service delivery, presentation of monitoring results in formats that can be understood and accessed and used.
• Decentralise most of the steps in monitoring – ensure support to local governments in implementing the monitoring system and making sense of the data.
• Assign responsibilities for implementing and for financing continuous monitoring.
• Assess capacity needs and plan for required capacity development support.

Closing the loop: from measurement to action

Well-documented experiences from Uganda and Honduras are certainly a useful resource for others who are in the process of developing country monitoring systems. In Latin America, IRC has supported and written about the process of developing indicators for monitoring the sustainability of rural WASH services and defining the institutional arrangements for monitoring in El Salvador, Honduras and Paraguay. In Ghana, IRC has been working with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to monitor sustainable water service provision. IRC’s symposium generated many other case studies and helped clarify lessons, challenges and remaining questions around monitoring sustainability of water and sanitation services.

And besides documents, it is clear that conversations can help us learn from each other. Our session was too short to really get into the nitty gritty. A discussion group on national sector water monitoring provides further opportunity for further on-line dialogue and exchange of lessons.