Understanding the WASH system and its building blocks: : building strong WASH systems for the SDGs

English
Display title
Understanding the WASH system and its building blocks
Strapline
Building strong WASH systems for the SDGs
Publication DOI
IRC-WSS-WP-2018-01
Node read time
1 minute
Resource type
Listing introduction text
This working paper is one of a series that explains IRC's emerging praxis for working with and strengthening WASH systems.
Member
Location
Publisher
IRC
Place published
The Hague, the Netherlands
Publication language/s
English
Page sections
content

Abstract

This paper presents a set of nine building blocks of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems intended to reduce complexity to a manageable level, enabling and supporting action whilst neither oversimplifying reality nor losing sight of the entirety of the broader WASH system.

By assessing the condition of each of the building blocks – institutions, policy and legislation, finance, regulation and accountability, monitoring, planning, infrastructure, water resource management, and learning and adaptation – and of the linkages between them, WASH practitioners can identify weak points and target their interventions for greater effect.