The purpose of this research project was to help overcome socio-cultural clashes between communities, service providers, development cooperation actors and local authorities, and the resulting ineffectiveness of the sanitation and water supply systems in selected indigenous areas. This was achieved by institutional mapping of the underlying rules, practices and value systems of different sanitation and water supply arrangements, which made these explicit and transparently documented. The research suggested ways forward by analyzing valuable experiences, finding potential service options, management methods and behavioral changes that serve both traditional/indigenous needs and aspirations and requirements of modern/bureaucratic service provision.
For quality control purposes, the partnership established an Advisory Panel, which met every three months to discuss methodological issues, as well as provide advice and inputs on the preliminary findings. The advisory panel was composed of a group of international experts from different fields, including anthropology, water engineering and social aspects, and included representatives of developing and developed countries.
A case study was carried out in Nicaragua, through a partnership between SIWI and the University of URACAN. The findings of the field work in Nicaragua complemented the desk review done by the research team of SIWI where worldwide experiences, and specifically the MDG-F experiences, were analyzed to identify the principle challenges and opportunities in working in WASH projects in indigenous regions.
The preliminary findings and results of the overall research study were shared and discussed at three levels. A first level was at the case study country level, Nicaragua, where public institutions and development actors met to discuss and comment on the preliminary findings. A second level occurred at the MDG-F countries sample, where MDG-F Joint Programmes had the chance to comment on and review the draft documents. Two representatives per programme carried out this phase. Lastly, a global consultation process took place at the HQ level, with the main UN Agencies and development actors involved in WASH interventions at the community level reviewed the findings and suggested improvements.
Two final products were developed: 1) A position paper and guidelines document: This summarizes in a brief document the main research findings in a way that is useful and agile for advocacy and decision-making purposes. It follows the phases of planning and implementation and highlights the key issues and recommendations for each of them. It also deepens discussion of the most pressing changes required in working in indigenous communities in order to ensure success. 2) Research final report: An extensive report that covered all the findings of the desk review and analyzed every phase of the case study in Nicaragua, detailing specific conclusions.
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