Systems mapping for sustainability: a case study of shifting the focus of NGO action in Malawi

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have placed a renewed focus on the need for organisations to consider how to produce lasting impact. Often the scope of this undertaking is underestimated and signals the need for an organisational shift in project design and implementation. This paper focuses on the work of WASH Catalysts in evaluating the sustainability of an InterAide project in Malawi’s Central Region during its ‘exit-phase.’ This paper showcases the ways in which creating systems maps identified leverage points and highlighted sustainability risks in InterAide’s Hand Pump Mechanic project, which then helped to inform their strategy moving forward. Additionally, it alludes to the value of NGOs using systems maps to inform more sustainable project design in the sector at large

Modelling pump functionality with a Markov process: insights and implications from Malawi

This paper uses recent data on water point functionality from Salima District, Malawi, to predict the expected pump functionality rates using a model known as a Markov process. If the model fits, as the findings suggest, the implication for infrastructure sustainability is that long-term pump functionality rates will only improve if there is an increase in the probability that pumps will be repaired. Examples from Malawi, notably from Nkhotakota District, suggest possible methods for improving this probability of pump repairs through strengthening local stakeholder relationships, which may hold greater potential for improving infrastructure sustainability than the temporary benefits typified by direct project interventions

Institutional sustainability: a case study on project transition in rural Malawi

In the final stages of a project, the transition between implementation and the post-project context marks a critical period for institutionalizing sustainability of project impacts. In practice, however, transition is an often overlooked and undervalued aspect of project design. Facilitating the transition strategy of a WaterAid Malawi project from the district of Salima over the past year, Engineers Without Borders Canada has been working in partnership with permanent institutions and the local implementing organization to both effectively transition the project and to articulate the process taken. Role definition and mapping, skills gap identification, and targeted development of key capacities have emerged as key steps in this case study. In addition, essential components of a strong transition are elaborated on, such as clear expectation setting and design of collective spaces

Improving water point functionality in Malawi: making the case for minimum financing for direct support

Due to decentralization policy in Malawi, district government water offices responsible for providing direct support for water service delivery find themselves with an increase in devolved responsibilities but without the corresponding funds to carry them out. EWB has been implementing a strategy to advocate for a realistic devolution of funds to district level government to carry out the minimum direct support necessary to improve water point functionality. This approach is focused on the generation of specific evidence, as well as mapping and coordination of sector stakeholders to generate a feasible plan for an increase in devolved funds. This case study highlights the key lessons learned in advocating for more resources to an underfunded sector in a competitive resource constrained context where most sectors remain severely underfunded

Mapping Malawi’s budget decision-making for rural WASH service delivery

The stalled decentralisation of Malawi’s rural water sector has left local government with demands that far outweigh its available resources. Through a unique advocacy strategy, WASH Catalysts conducted research to gain insight into the people, procedures and interactions that determine rural water sector funding decisions. This paper highlights the strategy deployed by our advocacy campaign to overcome challenges in decentralisation by mapping information and budget flows among a wide distribution of decision-makers and ministries. Our findings suggest that the promotion of direct support for operation and maintenance of water points in Malawi will require bridging disconnect between key ministries involved in decision-making. Ultimately, clarifying the role of each relevant stakeholder is the first step in holding them accountable to providing effective and sustainable rural water sector budgets