Case studies on community self-improvement

This paper reviews eighteen case studies of community/household self-improvement related to water supply, sanitation and environment. The projects involve the use of simple technologies or the improvement of existing water and sanitation facilities and include such varied projects as worm eradication, irrigation improvements, sanitation promotion and improved stoves. The criteria for selecting these cases are that the focus is problem rather than technology oriented; that people have made informed choices; that it should be a valid and sustainable improvement; that the community has made at least 90 per cent of the investment; and that operation and maintenance is the community/household responsibility. Each case study is summarized and then the factors used to analyze each one including the initiation of the programme, implementation, promotion, design, unit of decision, contribution, investment, operation and maintenance, and training are organized in a table. By surveying the methodologies used in these self-improvement efforts the paper goes on to develop a general methodology for agencies and communities to assist communities/households to improve their living conditions in a low-cost programme. A list of the characteristics of community self-improvement efforts is included at the end.