The perennial problem of access to water in developing countries needs new approaches in order to ensure safe and reliable water supplies are provided, particularly for rural and peri-urban communities. Sub-Sahara Africa has the greatest lack of access to improved water supplies of any region in the world. Nigeria will be facing absolute water scarcity by the year 2025. Recent empirical studies have appraised the relevance of community engagement, which involves the participation of all relevant stakeholders in determining the way water issues are dealt with in communities at the local level. Despite significant literature on the association between community participation, sustainability and improved water access, there is little literature about which particular type of community engagement process matters the most with regard to enhancing participation in Nigeria. In the Nigerian context, effective community engagement could be achieved through practical water management planning, awareness, consultation, collaboration and implementation. However, this is easier said than done. The practicality of engaging Nigerian communities in water management is highly challenging, with numerous barriers, including high rate of poverty, corruption and rapid population rise. This study is concerned with identifying the best strategies and activities that are practical, affordable and sustainable, that could reduce or eliminate participation barriers and so enhance informing, consultation, involvement, empowerment and partnership processes in Nigeria. The findings can be used to facilitate participation within Nigerian communities and help to underpin the provision of potable water for all.
PurposeWorker engagement in health and safety (H & S) is a means to reduce risks in construction projects. A measure for worker engagement in H & S is a first step in ensuring improvement and maintenance of worker engagement in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of worker engagement in construction by testing a management instrument (WISH) developed to measure it during a construction project.Design/methodology/approachA stratified sample of workers in a construction project organisation was studied to test the effectiveness of a site‐wide engagement programme (IIF) run by the main contractor. The measurement was repeated 13 months after the first phase to check engagement at that stage of the project and to reduce bias in scoring.FindingsFour key factors emerged as the independent variables on which worker engagement depends. These are: knowledge and capability to engage, perceptions, attitudes and behaviours and actual involvement in H & S risk management. The IIF gave a check on the validity (face, construct and content) of the instrument as a measure of worker engagement. Reliability of the measure was tested by peer scoring at the second measurement phase. The Spearman‐Brown R showed a high degree of inter‐rater reliability in scores, supporting the reliability of the WISH measure.Originality/valueThe study provides a valid and reliable measure of worker engagement in H & S management for construction. The use of this instrument within the construction industry should help managements to improve the effectiveness of their worker engagement programmes.
The recent flooding in the North–East of Scotland has highlighted issues around climate change due to significant changes in duration, severity and volume of precipitation events. The Planning (PA) and Flood Authorities (FA) often do not have the capacity or resources to review and check the accuracy and robustness of the SUD schemes nor the calculations submitted by developers. This study demonstrates the development and application of an Independent Hydrology Audit (IHA) service aimed at auditing and reviewing ‘in principle’ planning applications from the aspect of flooding risk to the wider community the development is located within. The output of this service is to establish a more accurate representation of surface water impact from developments through the use of adequate green/blue infrastructure, provide a greater assurance to the communities at risk of flooding, and help the PA and FA meet their statutory obligations at the initial stage of planning.
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