We know what works

Let us apply our 50 years of experience to the WASH problems you face

Increasing impact

Developing a new theory of change for the Global Sanitation Fund

To make change happen, you need to know how. The Global Sanitation Fund now has a Theory of Change and a monitoring framework to track its impact

Focus areas

Key team members

We were contracted by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) to help develop the Global Sanitation Fund’s theory of change and conceptual framework, as well as its new results and monitoring framework.

The Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) has been one of the key players in transforming the sanitation sector. Programmes supported by the GSF have contributed greatly to stopping open defecation. During its next phase, GSF needs to address the challenges of sustainability, scalability and equity, while at the same time strengthening its results and monitoring framework.

Several independent evaluations and studies have shown that GSF needs to strengthen its systems, procedures and approaches, and in particular to:

  • revise the GSF Results Framework so that it uses adequate indicators to capture what is actually taking place as the GSF’s theory of change is put into action;
  • include equality and non-discrimination, as this is a core principle of WSSCC and the GSF;
  • address supply side approaches to enhance sustainability of behaviour change along with sanitation marketing.

GSF’s new theory of change and conceptual framework, and its new results and monitoring framework are due to be presented for global discussion before the end of 2017.

Image of a school sanitary facility in Fort Portal Uganda

We were contracted by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) to help develop the Global Sanitation Fund’s theory of change and conceptual framework, as well as its new results and monitoring framework.

The Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) has been one of the key players in transforming the sanitation sector. Programmes supported by the GSF have contributed greatly to stopping open defecation. During its next phase, GSF needs to address the challenges of sustainability, scalability and equity, while at the same time strengthening its results and monitoring framework.

Several independent evaluations and studies have shown that GSF needs to strengthen its systems, procedures and approaches, and in particular to:

  • revise the GSF Results Framework so that it uses adequate indicators to capture what is actually taking place as the GSF’s theory of change is put into action;
  • include equality and non-discrimination, as this is a core principle of WSSCC and the GSF;
  • address supply side approaches to enhance sustainability of behaviour change along with sanitation marketing.

GSF’s new theory of change and conceptual framework, and its new results and monitoring framework are due to be presented for global discussion before the end of 2017.

Image of a school sanitary facility in Fort Portal Uganda

We know what works

Let us apply our 50 years of experience to the WASH problems you face

Getting a global overview

Seeking the ideal conditions for sustainable rural water services

Global study on sustainable service delivery models for rural water in 16 countries.

Focus areas

Key team members

In 2016-2017 IRC was subcontracted by Aguaconsult to provide technical expertise into a global study on sustainable service delivery models for rural water.

The study analysed rural water service provision in 16 countries and focused specifically on the conditions in place, current service delivery models, and the broader policy, institutional and regulatory environments.

The analytical framework employed in the study used five cross-cutting building blocks, to understand sustainable rural water services. These comprise the ideal set of functions or conditions that need to be performed or in place for the whole ecosystem to keep working. These building blocks are consolidated from the range of ten building blocks identified by the IRC led Triple-S project, as well as considering other examples, including UNICEF’s WASH Bottleneck Analysis Tool, WaterAid’s sustainability framework, USAID’s Sustainability Index Tool and the FIETS taxonomy.

Based on the findings, a briefing document was developed for each country containing key findings and recommendations, both towards main government bodies responsible for rural water supply and to the World Bank operations in respective countries. The documents identify commonalities and best practices in order to inform the future design and implementation of projects, programmes and policies with relevance for the World Bank.

Our services included

  • Modification of the analytical framework
  • Input into development of assessment tool
  • Due diligence analysis of country reports and distillation of key lessons for global dissemination
  • Production of sixteen country briefs and a synthesis global report, presenting a cross-country analysis of findings and lessons.

In 2016-2017 IRC was subcontracted by Aguaconsult to provide technical expertise into a global study on sustainable service delivery models for rural water.

The study analysed rural water service provision in 16 countries and focused specifically on the conditions in place, current service delivery models, and the broader policy, institutional and regulatory environments.

The analytical framework employed in the study used five cross-cutting building blocks, to understand sustainable rural water services. These comprise the ideal set of functions or conditions that need to be performed or in place for the whole ecosystem to keep working. These building blocks are consolidated from the range of ten building blocks identified by the IRC led Triple-S project, as well as considering other examples, including UNICEF’s WASH Bottleneck Analysis Tool, WaterAid’s sustainability framework, USAID’s Sustainability Index Tool and the FIETS taxonomy.

Based on the findings, a briefing document was developed for each country containing key findings and recommendations, both towards main government bodies responsible for rural water supply and to the World Bank operations in respective countries. The documents identify commonalities and best practices in order to inform the future design and implementation of projects, programmes and policies with relevance for the World Bank.

Our services included

  • Modification of the analytical framework
  • Input into development of assessment tool
  • Due diligence analysis of country reports and distillation of key lessons for global dissemination
  • Production of sixteen country briefs and a synthesis global report, presenting a cross-country analysis of findings and lessons.

We know what works

Let us apply our 50 years of experience to the WASH problems you face

Getting global indicators

A review of metrics for measuring sustainability of rural water services

To get to a set of minimum standardized global indicators we analysed practices by World Bank, international organisations, and governments.

Focus areas

Key team members

In 2017, IRC, provided inputs into this World Bank assignment led by Aguaconsult.

The assignment included a study to analyse and assess the existing metrics used by the World Bank and other international organisations, and selected national governments, for measuring sustainability and functionality of rural water service delivery.

The above also included a specific review of existing SIASAR systems. SIASAR are the rural water and sanitation information systems, used by the governments of Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

The ultimte objective of this assignment was to identify and develop a minimum set of standardized global indicators that can track functionality, performance and sustainability of water infrastructure and the services they deliver and that can be adopted and used by practiotioners world wide.

Our services included

  • Proposal and inception report development
  • Review of monitoring systems
  • Assessment of SIASAR
  • Input into Synthesis Report

The assignment was realised with former IRC colleague Andrés Gil.

In 2017, IRC, provided inputs into this World Bank assignment led by Aguaconsult.

The assignment included a study to analyse and assess the existing metrics used by the World Bank and other international organisations, and selected national governments, for measuring sustainability and functionality of rural water service delivery.

The above also included a specific review of existing SIASAR systems. SIASAR are the rural water and sanitation information systems, used by the governments of Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

The ultimte objective of this assignment was to identify and develop a minimum set of standardized global indicators that can track functionality, performance and sustainability of water infrastructure and the services they deliver and that can be adopted and used by practiotioners world wide.

Our services included

  • Proposal and inception report development
  • Review of monitoring systems
  • Assessment of SIASAR
  • Input into Synthesis Report

The assignment was realised with former IRC colleague Andrés Gil.

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