What has World Waternet learned by implementing an integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach in Mali? In the Blue Deal Dji Don project, World Waternet supports the Agence Nationale de Gestion des Stations d’Épuration du Mali (ANGESEM) to improve wastewater management. Presentation by Annette Rozendaal-Morón, World Waternet at the WASH Debate "Sustainable WASH service delivery and local WRM in fragile states: how far can you get?", in The Hague, the Netherlands on 20 November 2019.
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Finding the flow in fragile contexts : IWRM in Mali
1. Finding the flow in
fragile contexts:
IWRM in Mali
Picture taken with consent during field visit, April 2019
2. Finding the flow in fragile contexts: IWRM in Mali
Fragility – what is it?
• Multi-dimensional concept, with universal
challenges.
• Limited capacity to meet basic needs of the
population.
• Vicious cycle: fragility leaves most water-
challenges unaddressed, exacerbating the
issues and the need for them to be met.
3. Finding the flow in fragile contexts: IWRM in Mali
World Waternet’s integrated approach in
Mali
• FOCUS DJI DON: upscaling wastewater
treatment and professionalizing operations
in Mali by providing support, creating
opportunities and exchanging of knowledge
and experience.
• FOCUS SOMAGEP: improved access to
drinking water in Mali.
• BLUE DEAL (2030): Goal is to help 20
million people in 40 catchment areas
around the world gain access to clean,
sufficient and safe water.
• WaterWorX (2030): Increasing drinking
water access to 10 million people by 2030.
4. Finding the flow in fragile contexts: IWRM in Mali
Putting the practice
into action: a
question of
balance?
• Long term commitment vs. short-
term needs.
• Unequal burden, different
working realities.
5. In closing…Dilemma’s and points to make
• Pragmatism trumps checklists of actions in IWRM.
• Approaches to water (management) will change over time, challenge is
to contribute to the development of institutions and infrastructure that
can adapt.
• Systemic challenges: complexities of political changes, capacity to
absorb funds, security.
Eight WWTPs plants have been built in Mali, but they function poorly and are not properly managed.
Organic waste is dumped in Niger, this poses a threat to the environment and public health.
Improved, increased and ensured local understanding, capacity and planning of wastewater treatment leads the way to higher effluent quality and reduced river pollution.
So what do we do?
We strengthen the financial, technical and social sustainability of the local partners
We strengthen the enabling environment
if institutions already struggle to survive and perform in their daily roles, can you expect them to be able to plan in an adaptive manner for the future’
In a sector where spending has historically been low, a question arises about the rate at which flows of finance may be increased, at least funds channelled through state (public) bodies. It cannot simply be assumed that more resources will rapidly translate into improved outcomes. All development interventions need to be designed taking into account constraints in ‘absorptive capacity’ (ODI 2005). As well as funds being available, it is important that they ‘be used in the right way’ (Tearfund 2005, page 23).