If MUS is such a good idea, why doesn’t it spread like wildfire?

Potential and barriers for scaling MUS; based on scoping studies in India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania

Barbara van Koppen & Stef Smits

MUS models:• domestic-plus: higher service levels: climbing the water ladder• irrigation-plus: improving access for non-irrigation uses• MUS by design: community-driven planning and design

Silo-ed scaling partners: • Domestic-plus WASH • Irrigation-plus irrigation sector• MUS by design:

Plus approaches; holistic water services; water resource programs e.g., 3 R, NRM, ecosystems

Community-driven development and employment generation

Strategies for scaling MUS: ‘Models’ and ‘Scaling partners’

Water

Devmt

MUS by design in community-driven development/employment generation

Local government/implementing agents; e.g., • India MG National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme:

55 million households; 2/3 assets water: the world’s largest rural water project!

• Community driven development: e.g. PAF Nepal;TASAF Tanzania

Taps: communities’ self-supply for multiple uses/benefits, efficiently from multiple sources, through cost-effective multi-purpose infrastructure, according to own priorities, leveraging own investments, for sustainable health and wealth

Accountability Paradox

Expertise-based, competitive funding;

accountable for infrastructure

(output) and single livelihood (outcome)

Not my job; already so complex; no extra

costs

People’s planning

Discretion;Demand-

driven expertise

MUS opportunities-1: outcomes

WASH

My sub-sector is accountable to:

IrrigationMy sub-sector is accountable to:

Key messages

Livelihood impacts

Improve health - by clean drinking water and sanitation Other methods, health aspects and livelihoods are not my job

Improve food, productivity, and income through crops (and health related to that) Other livelihoods are not my job

Meet multiple livelihoods for more outcomes

(allow for more flexibility in project formulation!)

Water safetyHealth impacts

Treat all domestic water, also for domestic uses that do not need drinking water quality

Domestic-plus is a waste of expensive treated water

Forbid people to drink water from canals

Drinking water quality is not my expertise and not my job

Ensure 3-5 lpcd clean Reduce costs for larger quantities

of lesser quality for personal hygiene and for other domestic uses and productive uses

WASH

My sub-sector is accountable to:

IrrigationMy sub-sector is accountable to:

Key messages:

Equity in fund allocation

Domestic-plus delays reaching the unserved and meeting their human rights

Target basic domestic services to all to realize one human right

Water for broader socio-economic human rights (food, livelihoods) are not my job

Provide more water for more land, widening gaps

Prioritize fund allocation to meet domestic needs and minimum productive needs for all

? Universal domestic-plus (gender/landless)

MUS is more cost-effective

Cost recovery

Domestic-plus generates income for better cost-recovery (favouring MUS)

Cost-recovery even for just operation and maintenance is weak

More uses increase ability to pay (favouring MUS)

Cost-recovery even for just operation and maintenance is weak

Broaden the benefits, and hence the basis for cost-recovery, through multi-purpose infrastructure

Target life-line subsidies to the poor Those who can pay should pay

MUS opportunities-2: reaching the poor/women cost-effectively

WASH

My sub-sector is accountable to:

IrrigationMy sub-sector is accountable

to:Key messages:

Pro-poor water allocation

Allowing for productive uses will steal water from domestic uses and increase inequities

Infrastructure designed for domestic uses means it IS a priority

Domestic and livestock uses are negligible quantities, so acceptable

Infrastructure designed for irrigation means it IS a priority, irrespective of statutory/human rights law

Prioritize water allocation for basic domestic and productive water uses for all, meeting various human rights, and ensure enforcement

MUS opportunities-3: allocating water equitably/efficiently

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