Policy review of the means of implementation targets and indicators for the sustainable development goal for water and sanitation

Bartram, Jamie; Brocklehurst, Clarissa; Bradley, David J.; Müller, Mike; Evans, Barbara

doi:10.1038/s41545-018-0003-0

Cited by 95 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Participation is essential to the sustainability of water and sanitation management options [15], and is also as a means for development, in line with the human rights perspective. Target 6.b is the only SDG target to mention public participation as a Means of Implementation in the management of resources or services [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Enabling Environment for Participation in Water and Sanitation: A Conceptual Framework

Jiménez

LeDeunff

Giné

et al. 2019

Water

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Participatory approaches are an important component of institutional frameworks for the governance of water resources and services. Studies on public participation in water management provide evidence for the outcomes of public participation and insights into the types of methods and the contexts under which participation can be meaningful. However, participatory processes are complex, and there is no single method by which to interpret, approach and implement them. This paper explores elements from the theory and practice of participation, applied to the management of water resources and water and sanitation services. Based on an in-depth literature review, we analyze the forms of participation in water and sanitation, their outcomes, as well as the contextual factors and procedural elements of participatory processes that affect their success. Contextual factors are those that are largely outside of the control of agencies or participants (e.g., demographics, history, and culture) or those that can only be influenced by management and institutional decisions in the mid- and long-term (e.g., the legal and institutional framework); while procedural elements are those over which agencies and participants have considerable control when designing and executing participatory efforts (e.g., representativeness and inclusivity, access to information, and opportunity to influence). We propose a framework that interrelates and integrates both contextual factors and procedural elements of participation. It, includes three additional aspects that are influenced by, and in turn influence, the context and the process: existing capacities for implementation of meaningful participatory processes, the resources that are allocated to them, and attitudes towards participatory processes. The framework helps conceptualize what we call the enabling environment for active, free, and meaningful participation in the delivery of water and sanitation services. By breaking down the complexities of participation, the framework supports practitioners and decision-makers to better design and implement participatory processes in water resources and water and sanitation services.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Enabling Environment for Participation in Water and Sanitation: A Conceptual Framework

Jiménez

LeDeunff

Giné

et al. 2019

Water

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“…Economics and finance information needs figured prominently among research priorities, but were not reflected by respondents from, nor potentially the membership makeup of, the R&L constituency. A UN synthesis report backs the perception that current financial resources are inadequate to achieve Goal 6, and recommends increasing efficiency of existing financial resources while mobilizing additional and innovative forms of domestic and international finance (UN Water, 2018) Bartram, Brocklehurst, Bradley, Muller, and Evans (2018) similarly identified a lack of reference to financing needs in the Means of Implementation (MoI) for Goal 6. Our findings suggest development of a research agenda by researchers alone may not meet needs across all constituencies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global water, sanitation and hygiene research priorities and learning challenges under Sustainable Development Goal 6

Setty

Jiménez

Willetts

et al. 2019

Development Policy Review

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Motivation Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global partnership addressing universal water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) access. Shortly after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations, the research and learning (R&L) constituency of SWA undertook a systematic study to determine global research priorities and learning needs. Purpose To identify priority topics where improved knowledge would aid achievement of Goal 6 by developing a global WaSH research agenda, and to describe evidence‐use challenges among WaSH professionals. Approach and methods We delivered a tailored, semi‐structured electronic questionnaire to representatives from countries, R&L institutions, and other SWA partners (external support agencies, civil society, and private sector). The survey gathered views from 76 respondents working in an estimated 36 countries across all world regions. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to identify patterns and themes. Findings Most responses indicated lower confidence in at least one Goal 6 target area, especially managing untreated wastewater and faecal sludge. To support learning, respondents valued a combination of both brief and lengthy information formats. WaSH information was perceived as contradictory or unreliable only among non‐R&L constituencies. The R&L constituency saw ample learning and training opportunities, while others perceived barriers to participating. WaSH activities were frequently constrained by upward accountability to funders, while stakeholder inclusion was inconsistent. Policy implications This study offers insight into perceived research and decision challenges related to Goal 6 targets. It develops a unified research agenda focused on high‐priority topics, and recommends renewed attention to evidence synthesis, learning and implementation support, research engagement and multisectoral co‐ordination.

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“…To meet this goal, the indicator used is the "amount of water-and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government coordinated spending plan." In other words, this goal prioritizes the capital spending (CAPEX) framed in development aid programs above other types of international cooperation such as the assistance offered in the form of advice or knowledge for solving a particular challenge or problem (Bartram et al 2018). Likewise, the implementation of the SDG6 will require enormous financial expenses in the context of the operational and maintenance costs of the water services (OPEX) and capacity building deficit, which cannot be covered solely by the international support, since it requires heavy investments at the national level.…”

Section: The Hydrosocial Cycle: Identifying Practical Applications Thmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The diagnosis of its implementation discloses that SDG6 targets are not on track to be met. Moreover, some authors have remarked the weakness of the link between means of implementation and SDG6 outcomes (Bartram et al 2018). Many of these objectives are poorly developed, and some of the monitoring indicators are difficult to interpret.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hydrosocial Cycle: Understanding Water as a Socionatural Production

Villar-Navascués

Arahuetes

2020

Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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The lack of attention to the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of water conflicts and water policies has led to the production of the hydrosocial cycle framework since the beginning of the new century (Bakker 2002; Budds 2008; Linton 2010; Swyngedouw 2004, 2009). This concept understands water as a socionatural hybrid formed as a result of the interrelationships between water flows and social, economic, political, and cultural processes. Linton and Budds (2014) define the hydrosocial cycle as a socionatural process by which water and society influence and transform each other along different spatial and temporal scales. As a result, water cannot be managed solely from technical and quantitative perspectives, since the environmental problems surrounding this resource are fundamentally social and political issues. Understanding water beyond its biophysical characteristics, such as its chemical composition (H 2 O), quality, and quantity, implies becoming aware of how its circulation is influenced by society through hydraulic infrastructures, legislation, cultural practices, and symbolic meanings (Budds and Hinojosa 2012). The aim of this concept is to try to overcome dualistic visions that separate water and society through a relational-dialectic approach that allows identifying how water, at the same time as it is produced by society, reconfigures social relations and highlights power relationships involved in this process (Linton and Budds 2014). In this way, it can be identified how the distribution and control of water resources in local contexts are influenced by processes of capital accumulation and unequal power relations produced at different scales (Swyngedouw 2004). Therefore, the hydrosocial cycle analysis provides a better understanding of how water flows shape and are shaped by institutions, practices, and human discourses that determine, in turn, ways of control, management, and decision-making (Linton and Budds 2014).

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Policy review of the means of implementation targets and indicators for the sustainable development goal for water and sanitation

Cited by 95 publications

References 3 publications

The Enabling Environment for Participation in Water and Sanitation: A Conceptual Framework

The Enabling Environment for Participation in Water and Sanitation: A Conceptual Framework

Global water, sanitation and hygiene research priorities and learning challenges under Sustainable Development Goal 6

The Hydrosocial Cycle: Understanding Water as a Socionatural Production

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