Rural Water Supply and Development

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT

COURSE BACKGROUND

Access to safe, affordable, and sustainably managed water is a cornerstone of rural development, directly impacting public health, livelihoods, education, and gender equality. Despite significant investments, millions in rural areas across East Africa, including Kenya, still lack reliable access to improved water sources. This challenge is compounded by factors such as dispersed populations, limited infrastructure, low capacity for operation and maintenance (O&M), inadequate financial models, and the increasing impacts of climate variability and change (e.g., recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall). A top-down, technology-driven approach often fails to address the unique socio-cultural, economic, and environmental contexts of rural communities. Sustainable rural water supply requires integrated approaches that prioritize community ownership, appropriate technology selection, robust O&M frameworks, and strong local governance, fostering resilient and self-reliant communities.

ECAS Institute offers this “Rural Water Supply and Development” course to equip rural development practitioners, WASH professionals, local government staff, community leaders, engineers, and public health officers with the knowledge and practical skills to plan, implement, and sustain rural water supply initiatives. This program will emphasize participatory approaches, sustainable technologies, financial viability, and institutional arrangements critical for ensuring long-term access to safe water in rural settings.

COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the unique challenges and opportunities in providing sustainable water supply to rural communities.
2. Identify and select appropriate and context-specific technologies for rural water sources, treatment, and distribution.
3. Apply participatory approaches to engage communities effectively in the planning, implementation, and management of rural water schemes.
4. Develop robust operation and maintenance (O&M) plans and financing models to ensure the long-term functionality of rural water systems.
5. Integrate gender, equity, and social inclusion considerations into rural water development projects.
6. Assess the impact of climate change on rural water sources and design adaptation strategies.
7. Understand the policy, legal, and institutional frameworks governing rural water supply and the role of local governance structures (e.g., Water Resources Users Associations – WRUAs).

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

This course will provide you with specialized expertise in designing and managing rural water supply projects that are both effective and sustainable. You will learn to:

• Conduct comprehensive community needs assessments for rural water supply, considering socio-economic and cultural factors.
• Evaluate and select various rural water supply technologies, including boreholes, shallow wells, spring protection, rainwater harvesting, and gravity-fed schemes.
• Design simple water treatment solutions suitable for rural contexts (e.g., household treatment, slow sand filters, chlorination).
• Develop community-managed water systems, fostering local ownership and management capacity.
• Establish viable tariff collection and financial management systems for rural water schemes.
• Formulate training programs for community water committees and local artisans on O&M.
• Integrate hygiene promotion and sanitation improvements alongside water supply interventions.
• Assess the vulnerability of rural water sources to climate change and develop adaptation plans (e.g., drought-resistant boreholes, watershed management).
• Navigate the institutional landscape of rural water supply, including government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations.
• Utilize monitoring and evaluation frameworks tailored for rural water projects to track functionality and impact.

DURATION AND PROGRAM

This is a structured training course combining technical knowledge with practical, community-focused approaches. The program will feature interactive lectures, case studies (with a strong focus on lessons learned from rural water projects in Kenya and the broader East African region), group exercises, practical demonstrations of simple technologies, and potentially virtual tours or discussions with rural water project implementers. Participants will engage in hands-on development of project components and sustainability plans. The detailed program schedule, including specific session timings and learning activities, will be communicated upon registration.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

This course is essential for professionals and practitioners involved in providing water services and fostering development in rural areas. It is highly beneficial for:

• WASH Project Managers and Coordinators (NGOs, local government, development agencies)
• Rural Development Officers
• Community Development Workers
• Public Health Officers and Environmental Health Practitioners
• Water Engineers and Technicians working in rural settings.
• Local Government Officials (e.g., county government staff responsible for water).
• Representatives of Water User Associations (WRUAs) and community water committees.
• Hydrologists and Geologists involved in rural water source development.
• Researchers and Academics in rural development, public health, and water management.

TRAINING MODULES

The course is structured to guide participants through the complete lifecycle of rural water supply and development:

No	Module	Details
1.	Understanding Rural Water Contexts and Challenges	This module sets the stage by exploring the unique socio-economic, environmental, and institutional dynamics of rural areas that influence water supply. Key Topics: Defining rural water access: Basic services, safely managed water (JMP ladder). Challenges of rural water supply: Scattered populations, limited infrastructure, O&M, financing, climate vulnerability, informal service providers. Socio-cultural aspects influencing water use and management in rural communities. Linkages between rural water, health, livelihoods, and gender equality.
2.	Rural Water Source Development and Technology Options	This module covers the identification, assessment, and development of various water sources, along with appropriate technologies for extraction and distribution in rural settings. Key Topics: Groundwater sources: Boreholes, shallow wells, handpumps (e.g., Afridev, India Mark II), well construction and development. Surface water sources: River intakes, spring protection, simple gravity-fed schemes. Rainwater harvesting: Household and institutional systems (tanks, catchments). Water quality testing and simple treatment options for rural contexts (e.g., chlorination, household filters, slow sand filters). Considerations for appropriate technology selection (cost, O&M, local capacity, climate).
3.	Community Participation and Social Mobilization	This module emphasizes the critical role of community engagement and ownership in the sustainability of rural water schemes. Key Topics: Principles of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) applied to water supply. Mobilizing and empowering communities: Formation and training of Water User Associations (WRUAs) or Water Committees. Community ownership, responsibility, and decision-making in water project cycles. Conflict resolution mechanisms in community water management. Gender and social inclusion in water committee representation and decision-making.
4.	Operation, Maintenance, and Financial Sustainability	This module focuses on ensuring the long-term functionality and financial viability of rural water supply systems. Key Topics: Developing comprehensive O&M plans for different rural water technologies. Spare parts supply chains and local artisan training/support. Tariff setting and collection mechanisms for rural water services. Financial management and accountability for community water schemes. Community revolving funds and other financing models. Addressing common causes of non-functionality and breakdown.
5.	Rural Water Governance, Policy, and Institutional Support	This module examines the broader policy and institutional environment supporting rural water supply, including the roles of government and external actors. Key Topics: National water policies and legal frameworks relevant to rural water (e.g., Kenya’s Water Act, decentralization policies). Roles of national and county governments in rural water service provision and regulation. The role of NGOs, CSOs, and international partners in supporting rural water development. Institutional coordination and collaboration for integrated rural water management. Monitoring and evaluation frameworks for rural water sector performance.
6.	Climate Resilience and Water Security in Rural Areas	This module addresses the increasing impacts of climate change on rural water resources and strategies for building resilience. Key Topics: Assessing climate change impacts on rural water sources (e.g., drought, erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion). Climate change adaptation strategies for rural water supply (e.g., diversifying sources, managed aquifer recharge, watershed management). Drought preparedness and response in rural water contexts. Integrating water supply with disaster risk reduction (DRR) in rural areas. Water-energy-food nexus considerations in rural settings.
7.	Project Planning, Implementation, and Case Studies in Rural Water Development	This module synthesizes all learning into practical project management skills and analyzes real-world examples of rural water development. Key Topics: Project cycle management for rural water supply initiatives (needs assessment, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation). Developing project proposals and logical frameworks for rural water projects. Community contracting and procurement in rural settings. Monitoring functionality, usage, and water quality in rural schemes. In-depth case studies of successful and challenging rural water supply projects in Kenya and the broader East African region, highlighting best practices and lessons learned.

TRAINING STYLE

The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.

The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.

The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.

GENERAL NOTES

• Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
• Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
• We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
• Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.

ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE

The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.