Please note that this is an on-going project.
Project Description
Using both formative and action research combined with regional knowledge sharing opportunities (two peer-to-peer learning exchange events), this research seeks to better understand ways that government and civil society organisations (CSOs) engaged in the WASH sector can leverage formal, as well as emergent and informal networks, to further support and strengthen WCs, as well as link WRM with community WCs to result in more effective, sustainable and inclusive climate-resilient WASH. The overarching research question is: In the context of increasingly decentralizing rural water management in Pacific Island countries, how can formal, informal & emergent networks – both WASH and non-WASH related – better support mobilising and strengthening water committees (WC) to be both WASH and water resource managers who engage with both community and beyond-community factors affecting climate resilience?
There are two groups of guiding sub-questions/research objectives used to address this research question, with RQ1 focused at the village/community level and RQ2 focused at the community and beyond-community level.
RQ1. How can formal, informal and emergent networks (WASH and non-WASH related) be used to improve both the prioritisation of CWM and WC-capabilities for climate-resilient water management:
a) What monitoring, reporting and capacity-building activities can decentralized government structures feasibly use to mobilise, and hold WCs to-account, to deliver climate-resilient WASH?
b) How can informal and emergent social networks, such as church-based, town-village-based, and other non-WASH networks (such as agriculture, market associations, tourism, sporting programs, education institutions) be used to further promote and support WCs to engage in WRM discussions in their catchments?
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The project’s multidimensional approach has the potential to make substantial progress toward several key SDGs, particularly those related to water, sanitation, climate resilience, urban development, and partnerships for sustainable development.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The project directly contributes by enhancing WASH services in urban informal settlements, ensuring access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and promoting good hygiene practices.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By focusing on climate-resilient WASH services and urban planning, the project works towards creating more inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban settlements.
SDG 13: Climate Action: The project’s emphasis on localized climate science and resilience-building aligns with efforts to combat climate change and its impacts on vulnerable communities.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project’s collaborative approach, engaging settlement residents, leaders, and organizations, contributes
Outcomes to Date
Our research activities involve, and outputs are intended for, a range of audiences. However, the primary audience are National and Provincial Governments, who can incorporate findings and adopt resources into existing policies and guidelines. Many of the proposed activities and research focal areas have been identified through dialogue with implementing partners in each country. If adopted formally, CSOs and others engaging with communities and government on CWM will be encourage or required to use these outputs. The adoption of these CWM resources will add to existing resources to provide a more holistic and effective approach to CWM. Government staff and community members (WCs) will be directly involved in research activities.
Project Significance
The regional research project focuses on enhancing climate-resilient WASH services in urban informal settlements in PNG, Fiji and Vanuatu through trough the development of decision and planning support systems, citizen science for localized climate insights, advocacy methods, and engagement with settlement residents in collaborative planning.
The goal is to understand WASH climate-resilience in Melanesian informal settlements, encompassing individual, collective, and systemic resilience. The project aims to identify effective ways stakeholders can enhance resilience through urban planning, WASH service improvement, and fostering partnerships.
To address this, the research targets three objectives (O), nested into two components (C):
1. Integrating Climate Science and Local Knowledge (O1, C1): The project aims to combine climate science and local knowledge, bridging data gaps for future climate hazards. This involves linking citizen science climate data with historical records and spatial modeling to understand climate’s impact on WASH services.
2. Urban Planning for Resilient WASH (O2, C1): The study explores incorporating planning support systems (PSS) into urban and WASH planning. PSS are frameworks aiding decision-making, including spatial platforms, data collection methods, visualizations, and decision support tools.
3. Influencing Societal and Political Attitudes (O3, C2): The project examines strategies to improve attitudes toward upgrading WASH services. It considers how leaders and organizations can champion better WASH services in informal settlements.