The future of water & sanitation in Africa

Throughout this blog I have tried to demonstrate that although closely linked, sanitation and water are inherently different. Indeed, contrary to my own original belief, it is erroneous to assume that adequate sanitation will come freely with sufficient water. Sanitation is a learned practice whose subjectivities must be understood before improvements realised. To do this requires a push in awareness of sanitation as a fundamental pre-requisite to further development in Africa. This thinking must be adopted by policy makers to avoid the trappings of previous failures. Greater international recognition does show promise of a shifting paradigm but more must still be done to engage with a wider audience.

In terms of application, the theme throughout has been the need for more contextualised, place specific approaches. Adopting ideas of ‘appropriate technology’ will help to stress the importance of the small-scale as providing a necessary platform of participation and inclusion required for long-term success (Schumacher,1973; Solo, 1999). This is especially pertinent to the involvement of women, whose unique and habitually leading engagement in both water and sanitation access has often been overlooked by large-scale top-down approaches (O’Reilly, 2010).

Bottom-up community & business-led water & sanitation schemes have shown promise but, as examples in Nairobi and Uchira have shown, they are no panacea and these approaches almost always require overarching support. Thus, the facilitative role of the state and NGOs is critical. Collaboration is necessary but finding the correct ‘formula’ of actors can be challenging (Golooba-Mutebi, 2012). It is likely this will be contingent on specific geographies of space such as the rural/urban divide of which I have posted. Yet, it is important to note that the complexity of issues makes it impossible to justify definitive quick-fix ‘reductionist’ claims for what works and where. Indeed, the embedded and personal nature of water & sanitation behaviour must be recognised as being somewhat stubborn in its capacity for adjustment. Thus, change will come but cannot be expected instantaneously.

In conclusion, the ultimate remedy to poor water & sanitation provision in sub-Saharan Africa is one of public determination. Recognition of ‘equal right between those in the mainstream and those in the margins’ is required to enact meaningful change (Amin, 2006:1015). This is relevant for public sector influence but also for private sector mobilisation. Indeed, much of the limits of business as a development actor lie not within normative business practices themselves but in the expectations of the individual. Water and sanitation provision can more easily be made profitable if development practices are accepted into the expectations of consumers. For example, patrons must be willing to pay more for their goods if development orientated business investments are to be sustained. Perhaps, through receipt of this can the vast potential of the most powerful development force be fully utilised.