Local leadership development and WASH system strengthening: insights from Cambodia

Nhim, Tum; Mcloughlin, Claire

doi:10.2166/h2oj.2022.129

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This risk can be managed through public awareness campaigns that address proper treatment of water, safe storage, and safe handling practices, including cleaning the household storage containers and covering rainwater jars with lids. Some progress has been made under various WASH programs in Cambodia with respect to inhome water handling (Murphy et al 2009;Orgill et al 2013;Hunter et al 2014;Alfvegren et al 2019;Nhim and Mcloughlin 2022), but further work with respect to training the trainers and program implementation is needed.…”

Section: Lessons Learnedmentioning

confidence: 99%

E. coli Levels Associated with Source Waters and Household Handling Practices of Potable Water in Peri-urban Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Irvine,

Murphy,

Teang

et al. 2024

JWMM

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Cambodia has made progress towards addressing Sustainable Development Goal 6.1. “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all”, but challenges remain in fully realizing this target. We begin this paper by reviewing current country-wide access to safe and affordable water and subsequently report on the results of water sampling done for E. coli in a peri-urban area north of Phnom Penh that was conducted between 2018 and 2020. The sampling examined E. coli levels in source waters, including rivers, ponds, a large lake/wetland, wells, rainwater harvesting systems, piped water, and bottled water. Sampling from household storage containers and in-home drinking cups also was done to assess the effects that handling practices might have on exposure to E. coli. We show that country-wide, as well as in the peri-urban study area, there has been increased access to piped water. Piped water and commercially-available bottled water (0.5–1.5 L PET bottles) had the lowest E. coli levels in our study area, although such bottled water is not an affordable alternative for many peri-urban families. Surface pond water and the Tonle Sap River contained the highest E. coli levels and would pose the greatest risk associated with direct consumption. Handling practices may impact drinking water quality, as a significant difference (p=0.2) was found in E. coli levels between samples taken from commercially-available 0.5–1.5 L PET bottles and from household cups into which the bottled water was poured. There also was a significant difference (p<0.05) in E. coli levels between piped water sampled directly from the tap and piped water stored in bulk household containers. The geometric mean concentration of E. coli in large, covered, traditional outdoor storage jars used for rainwater harvesting was nearly 10 times lower than the same type of jars that were not covered, although due to the small sample size and variability in the data, the difference was not significant (p=0.5). Despite the increasing availability of piped water service in the study area, we found a diversity of water source practices, including use of rainwater harvesting, surface water, 20 L bottled water, and wells. These source waters can be safe, but must be routinely monitored. The study illustrates the advantages of field-based testing for effective screening of E. coli in peri-urban areas.

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Section: Lessons Learnedmentioning

confidence: 99%

E. coli Levels Associated with Source Waters and Household Handling Practices of Potable Water in Peri-urban Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Irvine,

Murphy,

Teang

et al. 2024

JWMM

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show abstract

“…Trust is an essential component of working contingently, and "contingent ways of working need to be coaxed, not commanded" (Honig and Gulrajani, 2018, p. 71). In the WASH sector in Cambodia, localisation has been found to enhance the effectiveness of leaders through building on existing institutional arrangements and adapting to a variety of participants' needs (Nhim and Mcloughlin, 2022). However, increased autonomy alone is not a panacea.…”

Section: Contingency Theory and Cso Partnershipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working together: A study of civil society partnerships between WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and GESI (gender equality and social inclusion) organisations in Timor-Leste

Grant

Nguyen²,

Vieira³

et al. 2023

Front. Water

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This article reports on an empirical study conducted in Timor-Leste that explored the drivers, benefits, and challenges of partnerships and collaborations between water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) organisations as integral parts of the WASH system. The research design was primarily qualitative and included a data-collection workshop with 30 representatives from 16 civil society organisations (CSOs) in Dili, longitudinal research involving two rounds of semi-structured interviews over 2.5 years with five organisations, and semi-structured interviews with an additional 18 CSOs. We applied a framework of post-development theory, including critical localism and working contingently. Key drivers to form partnerships were found to be the identification of community WASH service gaps and the alignment of advocacy agendas. Key benefits reported were increased inclusion and empowerment outcomes and strengthened organisational knowledge and capacity. Challenges emerge when organisations' key staff change, strategies misalign, and financial and administrative capabilities differ. The study contributes practical insights into how civil society organisations (CSOs) partner to strengthen mutual WASH and GESI strategies and programmes and their outcomes. We recommend strengthening the partnerships between WASH and GESI organisations in ways that are cognisant of power dynamics, local priorities, and capacity needs and promote longevity and continuity through ownership of decisions at the local level. Our findings suggest that meaningful, reciprocal, and respectful engagement with WASH and GESI organisations enables WASH programmes to be in a better position to address the harmful norms that drive inequitable behaviours, thus strengthening localism, and the WASH governance system overall.

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“…They are not far-removed, autocratic political elites casting a shadow over Cambodia, but are locally situated actors who are mindful of their standing in communities. Previous studies underline a strong civic drive among Commune officials in Cambodia and skills in building local rapport (Nhim & McLoughlin, 2022). This might be factored into a case-by-case appraisal of new social business franchises before they are commissioned using international development aid.…”

Section: Con Clus Ionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Thinking and Working Politically improve support for social business? Evidence from a water business in Cambodia

Lyne

2023

Development Policy Review

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MotivationSocial business is business that aims primarily to achieve social ends, while at least covering its costs. Social business has been put forward as a means to achieve development aims, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thinking and Working Politically (TWP) is an approach to ensure development interventions are politically feasible and not stymied by political opposition. Are the two approaches compatible?PurposeThe article asks whether social business can ally with TWP for more effective development, taking a social business for water provision in Cambodia as a case in point.Methods and approachA review of development policy literature on social business and TWP is combined with data we collected from fieldwork in Cambodia from November 2018 to February 2019. We interviewed key informants from social business, UNICEF, and government in the capital. At two water kiosks in eastern Cambodia, one successful the other less so, we interviewed 2 kiosk operators, 20 customers, and local leaders; we held four focus groups of customers; and we observed operations at the kiosks. Data was analysed using an ethnographic, or immersive, qualitative approach.FindingsIn this case, UNICEF intuitively used TWP to connect a social business to government departments. Water kiosks depended heavily on local political dynamics. We found Commune officials mindful of their standing in local society who often had the interests of the local community in their hearts, but the compatibility of TWP and social business at the local project level is variable.Policy implicationsTWP can potentially help development actors supporting social business to make political connections, in this case to appropriate government departments and local official. The key, however, is to understand context. The danger is to view social business as a turnkey intervention that can be used without adaptation to context, without consideration of local politics. Donors supporting social business need to appraise each business, case by case.Donors might also want to consider the motivations of international companies partnering with social business, particularly when different development objectives might be in conflict.

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Local leadership development and WASH system strengthening: insights from Cambodia

Cited by 4 publications

References 10 publications

E. coli Levels Associated with Source Waters and Household Handling Practices of Potable Water in Peri-urban Phnom Penh, Cambodia

E. coli Levels Associated with Source Waters and Household Handling Practices of Potable Water in Peri-urban Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Working together: A study of civil society partnerships between WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and GESI (gender equality and social inclusion) organisations in Timor-Leste

Does Thinking and Working Politically improve support for social business? Evidence from a water business in Cambodia

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