Governance and functionality of community water schemes in rural Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
A key challenge for achieving universal water access in Sub-Saharan Africa is poor sustainability of water schemes. Previous studies have posited factors that may lead to failed schemes; however, empirical data are lacking.


METHODS
We conducted direct observations of water sources and interviewed water committee members about governance in two regions of Ethiopia. Based on direct observation at each water point, and harmonizing previous research in the sector, we developed an ordinal measure of functionality. Among functional systems, linear regression models were used to assess changes in score or level of functionality against governance characteristics.


RESULTS
Of 89 water schemes over 5 years old, 82 had sufficient data to receive a score. Higher functionality scores were associated with having good records, meeting regularly, financial audits, higher monthly fees, a paid caretaker and water committees with capacity to perform minor repairs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our continuous measure of functionality was simple to derive, objective and may be widely applicable for further studies assessing key indicators of sustainability.
Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA. kellytesh@gmail.com.
Kelly T
KT
Alexander
Department of Anthropology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA. tesfayey@onid.orst.edu.
Yihenew
Y
Tesfaye
Civil Engineering and Environmental Science and Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA. rdreibe@ou.edu.
Robert
R
Dreibelbis
Catholic Relief Services, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. bekele.abaire@crs.org.
Bekele
B
Abaire
Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA. mcfreem@emory.edu.
Matthew C
MC
Freeman
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003906:Developing Countries; D004777:Environment; D005002:Ethiopia; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D012424:Rural Population; D014881:Water Supply / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Functionality; Governance; Sustainability; Water