Learning Repository

Self-supply of water in Asia and the Pacific: Country Profiles

Publication

To increase awareness and understanding of self-supply of water in Asia and the Pacific, the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures has partnered with UNICEF EAPRO and UNICEF ROSA to develop 21 country profiles. The following country profiles present the prevalence of self-supply, spatial and temporal trends, service levels including water quality and availability, equity dimensions, and policy aspects of
self-supply in each country.

Strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement and mutual accountability in water, sanitation and hygiene: Cross-country synthesis

Publication

This report synthesizes research findings on multi-stakeholder platforms and mutual accountability across five countries that received catalytic funds from Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) in 2022. The five countries were Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Niger and Paraguay. This synthesis report identifies common enabling factors that support effective multi-stakeholder collaboration, and common challenges that often inhibit this collaboration. The report also assesses current multi-stakeholder engagement and mutual accountability efforts in each country context, as well as demonstrating how such approaches can support progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

The SafePani model: Delivering safe drinking water in schools and healthcare centres in Bangladesh

Publication

This Story of Change presents the SafePani model in Bangladesh which aims to reform existing institutional design and move towards a professional water service delivery model, with timely and independently verified performance metrics unlocking results-based funding, with a focus on schools and healthcare centres.

Toward the Establishment of Sustainable Faecal Sludge Management - Lessons Learned from WEPA Partner Countries and Japan

Publication

This Policy Brief has been developed with the aim of: (i) investigating the existing situation and challenges on faecal sludge management in WEPA countries; (ii) identifying enabling factors for introducing and implementing appropriate business models for sustainable faecal sludge management, through selected case studies in WEPA countries; and (iii) initiating discussions on how lessons learned from Japan’s experiences in using Johkasou systems for human waste and faecal sludge management can be introduced to improve the situation in WEPA partner countries.

Towards Systemic Change in Urban Sanitation

Publication

This working paper outlines a 'whole-system approach' to urban sanitation by shifting the focus from building infrastructure or a project-driven implementation approach to providing and maintaining equitable and environmentally friendly services, championed and supported by the government and with sufficient resources allocated to ensure sustainability. The paper uses a step by-step approach to unravel and tackle the very complex circumstances surrounding the need for sanitation in urban areas, particularly in densely populated areas and to the less affluent sectors of society.

Urban Domestic Wastewater Management in Vietnam - Challenges and Opportunities

Publication

Urban WaterGuide: A guide for building sustainable and resilient cities

Publication

The Australian Government, Australian Water Partnership and the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities partnered to develop a framework to improve water outcomes in international cities and towns, based on Australia’s urban water experience. The result is the Urban WaterGuide, which covers water supply, sanitation, drainage, flooding, waterways and urban liveability, with a cross-cutting focus on gender equality and inclusion. The Guide helps decision makers who are responsible for water supply, sanitation, drainage, flood management and managing natural water bodies in cities and towns, by outlining a set of steps that can be adapted to any geography, and can be used at multiple scales.

Valuing Water: The Australian Perspective. Cultural values of water in the Murray-Darling Basin

Publication

This is one in a series of four reports that examine how the diverse values placed on water have shaped the development and management of water resources in the Murray Darling River Basin.

The report tells a story of how Australia’s First Nations communities and their cultural values are included in the management of water in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin. It explores themes regarding the recognition or identification of First Nations water values, how these values are considered in decision making, and the protection of these values. Connection to land and waters is fundamental to the cultural values of First Nations people and there is increasing progress in recognising and involving First Nations in restoring sustainable management as Australia continues its journey of dealing with increasing water demands in a highly variable and changing climate. However, only in recent decades has there been a move towards legal and moral recognition of ownership of the lands and waters occupied by its many nations before the colonisation of Australia from 1788.

The report looks at the inclusion of First Nations values and perspectives in water management across the Basin through various statutory mechanisms, tailored engagement processes and mainstream community engagement activities. The case study concludes with some general lessons about efforts in the Murray-Darling River Basin to recognise, assess and realise Indigenous cultural values associated with water that may be useful for others.

Valuing Water: The Australian Perspective. Economic values of water under scarcity in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Publication

This is one in a series of four reports that examine how the diverse values placed on water have shaped the development and management of water resources in the Murray Darling River Basin. The report explores how changing values have affected the management of scarce water resources in the Murray-Darling River Basin.

Four main phases in water management are described, together with an exploration of how changing perceptions of value have shaped policy, objectives and outcomes over time.

This report shows how water management can be adjusted in response to changes in our understanding of value and how this understanding can lead to more transparent valuation processes. Although water policies in the Basin have supported an open and flexible economy, and resilient and adaptive businesses, significant challenges remain in the management of its environmental and cultural values.

Valuing Water: The Australian Perspective. Environmental values of water in the Murray-Darling Basin

Publication

This is one in a series of four reports that examine how the diverse values placed on water have shaped the development and management of water resources in the Murray Darling River Basin.

The report provides an overview of the Australian experience with environmental water reform and gives a detailed account of the current management regime for environmental water, showing how environmental water policy has developed in the context of the Basin’s unique set of social, economic, political, institutional and hydrological variables. Development of a policy framework that recognised the environment as a legitimate water user in the Basin has had to respond to major droughts, competing societal interests, a transboundary system (albeit within a single nation), political power contests and interests, and stakeholder groups with often divergent values.

The report provides lessons about generalisations that can be made from the successes and challenges in management of water for the environment in the Basin. These lessons are presented according to three themes: recognition and acceptance of environmental values, identification of environmental water policy options, and implementation of environmental water policy.