A Holistic Framework for Evaluating and Planning Sustainable Rural Drinking Water Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa
Elsevier
Download
Abstract: This academic article presents a Holistic Integrated Framework (HIF) for assessing rural drinking water project sustainability, applying it to Siaya County, Kenya. The framework integrates multiple lenses?governance, technological appropriateness, environmental viability, economic feasibility, and community involvement?across global, national, regional, and local scales. Based on extensive interviews and field observations, the study critiques conventional linear evaluation models, highlighting systemic fragmentation and lack of feedback loops between actors. It maps institutional relationships and reveals gaps in accountability, data sharing, maintenance, and policy implementation. The author advocates for participatory diagnostics and systems mapping in water planning, emphasizing that project success depends on adaptive governance and holistic engagement. The framework is adaptable for use by planners, donors, and local governments and offers a practical step-by-step guide for integrating complex systems thinking into rural water infrastructure development in climate-vulnerable settings.