Skip to content
 
 
 
 

RWSN - Rural Water Supply Network

The Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) is a global knowledge network for promoting sound practices in rural water supply. RWSN grew out of the need to focus greater attention on rural water supply challenges and to encourage the sharing of experience and knowledge between governement institutions, NGOs and private agencies involved in rural water development.

Vision: RWSN’s vision is of a world in which all rural people have access to a sustainable and reliable water supply which can be effectively managed to provide sufficient, affordable and safe water within a reasonable distance of the home.

Mission: RWSN is a global network of professionals and practitioners working to raise standards of knowledge and evidence, technical and professional competence, practice and policy in rural water supply and so fulfil the vision of sustainable rural water services for all.

RWSN has strategic and thematic objectives as follows:

Strategic objectives

  1. National Governments, donors and INGOs explicitly recognise the importance of rural water services in their strategies, institutional arrangements and allocate financial and human resources accordingly.
  2. An appropriate balance is struck, according to country and context, between capital expenditure to extend access and recurrent expenditure to maintain services.
  3. Standards of design, construction, operation and maintenance are continuously improved, alongside qualifications and technical and professional expertise of individuals working to improve rural water services.
  4. Practices which show promise in terms of delivering sustainable rural water services are taken to scale through national programmes supported by Governments and their development partners.



Thematic Objectives

Theme Objective
Accelerating self supply Self Supply becomes a mainstream and accepted service delivery model within the Government, donor and implementing agency community as well as among water users in rural areas.
Sustainable groundwater development for rural water supplies Groundwater resources are properly considered and sustainably used for developing drinking water supply sources.
Management and support of rural water supply systems Appropriate models for management and supportof rural water supply services are piloted and taken to scale.
Equity and inclusion in rural water Supplies Targeting of service provision at all levels is inclusive of the needs and rights of all, with special attention those who are frequently excluded from access to services.


Recent Activities and Selected Publications

  • 6th International RWSN Forum, Kampala (29 November – 2 December 2011). Attended by over 430 delegates from 52 countries. Opened by the Ministers from Uganda and Ethiopia.
  • Code of Practice for Cost Effective Boreholes (2010), Costing and Pricing (2010) and Siting of Drilled Water Wells – A Guide for Project Managers (2010)
  • Accelerating Self Supply – Summary of progress in introducing a new approach (2011)
  • Low Cost Handpumps (2011)
  • Sustainable Supply Chains for Rural Water Services - Linking local procurement of handpumps and spare parts supply (2011)
  • Myths of Rural Water Supply (2010)


Planned Activities and Priorities for Skat within RWSN during 2012-2014

  • Enhanced online networking and knowledge sharing through re-built website; dgroups-based discussion groups; online training and webinars.
  • Co-ordinating activities with key partners in particular the Theme Coordinators for Equity & Inclusion (WaterAid) and Management & Support (IRC)
  • Influencing policy, raising the profile of rural water supply and setting the agenda for rural water supply in post-Millennium Development Goal targets.
  • Ongoing research and mainstreaming of key approaches, in particular self supply, the Code of Practice for Cost Effective Boreholes, and a service delivery approach to the sustainable provision of rural water supply that combines the efforts of government, private sector and NGOs.
  • Extending the uptake in existing theme focal countries in sub-Saharan Africa, plus establishing new pilot projects in South Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
  • Development of new areas of practice, including cost-effective groundwater resources management.
  • Maintaining and revising international standards on public-domain handpump designs, and promoting better handpump manufacturing standards and quality control.


Skat is the principle driver and co-ordinator of networking, fundraising, management and advocacy activities. In addition, Skat is co-ordinating the Accelerating Self Supply and Sustainable Groundwater Development Themes. This will include further work with partners countries and other RWSN member organisations.

http://www.rwsn.ch

http://rwsnforum.wordpress.com