From emergency to development or vice versa? Key lessons from the innovation of a well drilling method

Despite considerable differences between the relief setting and the developmental setting, it was concluded by PRACTICA during the S(P)EEDKITS project that requirements of hardware used in both settings have a significant overlap. Robustness, independence of external supplies and cost effectiveness are just a few of them. The product development aimed to improve hardware for relief organisations to access groundwater cost effectively with a proven method from the developmental sector. By professionalizing the hardware of a manual drilling technique called Rotary Jetting the relief organisations are now able to drill wells independently of third parties up to 30 meters in unconsolidated formations with limited skills needed and durable equipment. By adding the requirement in the product development that all parts should be locally maintainable, replaceable or repairable, it was attempted to make the kit highly applicable to be transferred to the private sector or local organizations when emergency organizations phase-out

Expanding preparedness - integrating emergency response with water sector development in the S(P)EEDWater tool

During humanitarian crises, emergency response organizations are confronted with a high level of complexity and dynamically changing priorities. Importance of the selection of water methods is amplified when considered that some of the solutions may support local or regional water sectors beyond the period of relief actions. The S(P)EEDWater decision-support tool attempts to reconcile emergency response goals of water delivery with considerations of water sector development. The tool contains peer-reviewed information on more than seventy water supply methods and their multi-disciplinary assessment according to criteria of (i) disaster/conflict, (ii) natural environment, (iii) technological, (iv) economic and (v) socio-cultural issues. This paper identifies key considerations to expand preparedness already in the post-relief phases of emergency interventions. It describes the approach, structure and set-up of the S(P)EEDWater tool and presents an initial assessment of the approach