Scaling Up Rural Water Services - Sustainability Through Support for Community Management

Over a billion people in the world lack access to a safe water supply. Challenging this human tragedy requires a global effort to increase sustainable coverage without repeating the mistakes of the 1960s and 1970s. Since these mistakes were recognised, there has been a paradigm shift towards communities taking responsibility for implementing, managing and paying for their water supply. However, many communities struggle with the management of their water services after these have been handed over to them.

Two challenges confront the sector:

  • ensuring that community water services are sustainable in the long term, which means that adequate institutional arrangements are in place to support community management,
  • finding ways to increase coverage from current “islands” of success to reach entire populations.

These challenges are being addressed by the Thematic Group On Scaling Up Rural Water Services. The group has been operational since December 2001. Staff from major sector organisations participates in the thematic group as well as a range of sector consultants. Through this website the thematic group communicates with the outside world.


Meeting 2-3 April 2009, London

Here are the minutes and presentations of the meeting held on 2-3 April 2009 in London.

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A Joint Vision

The main objectives and principles of scaling up have been summarised in this Joint Vision document.

ScalingUp_Joint_Vision_Them_Group.pdf  (588 kB)

Framework for Scaling Up Rural Water Supply

Currently there is little clarity about how to define and implement scaling up. This framework was developed by the Thematic Group on Scaling Up Community Management of Rural Water Supply to fill this gap. The aim of the framework is to contribute towards meeting the challenge of providing equitable and sustainable services to those who are currently unserved. It sets out the principles by which this can be done.

Framework_ScalingUp_Version1_Aug2005.pdf  (775 kB)