About

GWP’s VISION is a water secure world. Our MISSION is to advance governance and management of water resources for sustainable and equitable development.

OUR UNIQUE VALUE: GWP mobilises action on the global water crisis through a unique combination of social capital, shared values, credibility within the global water community, bottom-up orientation, and expertise. A network of networks, we ensure the ‘voices of water’ can inﬂuence local, national, regional, and global development priorities. We are committed to our role as a neutral convener and respected for our focus on inclusiveness and sustainability.

Learn

GWP creates and communicates information about integrated water resources management which contributes to improved water governance and, ultimately, water security.

Together with our Partners, we provide knowledge resources and capacity building activities for solving water problems.

Partner

Institutional Partners are the basis of GWP's multi-stakeholder partnership. A strong, diverse partnership can bring about the changes needed to achieve a water secure world. In this section, learn about the benefits of being a Partner and meet a few who already are. We invite like-minded organisations to join us!

GWP Regions

This is where you can find links to the websites of our Regional Water Partnerships (RWPs). RWPs are closest to the countries where we work. They share knowledge and learning across national boundaries and are expected to have an open, inclusive, and gender-sensitive policies for bringing together as wide a group of stakeholders as possible to solve water problems.

India: Social Contract Formulas in Rural Areas; The India Naandi Foundation Water Treatment Plants (#407)

Providing safe drinking water to poor families is a critical development issue of India. To address the common outbreaks of water borne diseases, the Naandi foundation together with Water Health India initiated the pilot rural Community Safe Water Scheme that combines cost-effective water purification technology with community-driven and performance-based approach. This case illustrates that with awareness raising campaigns, rural households are willing to pay for clean drinking water.

Description

Providing safe drinking water to poor families is critical development issues of India. Rural households in the coastal districts suffer frequent outbreaks of jaundice, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis. Andhra Pradesh with 80 million people routinely experiences bacteriological contamination of water due to inadequate water supply and sanitation.

Action taken

In 2006, the Naandi foundation together with Water Health India (WHI) requested Global Partnership on Output- Based Aid to fund the pilot rural Community Safe Water Scheme that combines cost-effective water purification technology with community-driven and performance-based approach. The pubic-private partnership between the village, NGO and WHI was established to finance the treatment facility.

The project districts were chosen because of their high poverty rate and lack of access to quality water services. Villages were selected based on the presence of a water source that could be purified and the willingness and ability of the village to adopt a fee-for-service scheme.

A combined financing of local funds, subsidy and a loan was employed. The grant covered the investment, community awareness and running costs. Tariffs are set at an affordable rate and cover the initial investment and O&M costs. A thorough financing discipline was critical for success of the project.

As a part of the project, targeted awareness raising campaigns helped the people to understand health benefits of safe drinking water. The project uses various techniques to target the poorest households. A benefit cost analysis and financial analysis revealed that project was financially sustainable from the operator’s perspective.

Lessons learned

Rural households are willing and able to pay for clean drinking water; just there is a need for awareness and campaign.
A tripartite agreement has been instrumental for the success of the project; partnership between the grant recipient and the technology provider is critical to success.
This project contributed to stimulate a wider sector discussion on issues related to appropriate water treatment technology for rural water supply, institutional arrangements of O&M, and improving accountability and transparency in service delivery.

Page last edited: 7/30/2013