Ghana to Kenya: Adapting and adopting innovation in rural lwater quality testing

When it comes to the pressing issue of water quality and safety, the latest publication from USAID #REAL-Water is a significant contribution to the ongoing efforts in Kenya and East Africa. The publication titled "Evaluating Water Quality Assurance Funds in Kenya: Baseline Assessment" offers valuable insights on if and how the Water Quality Assurance Fund, developed by Aquaya and partners in Ghana can be adapted to suit the Kenyan context.

The study examines how water quality assurance funds can be structured and capitalized to ensure sustainable financing for water safety programs. This approach could potentially revolutionize the way water projects are funded in East Africa, moving from episodic, donor-driven funding towards more sustainable models.

The report provides a comprehensive baseline assessment of water quality. This data is crucial as it offers a clear picture of the current state of water safety in Kenya, which policymakers and stakeholders can use to measure future progress. By establishing where the water quality stands, it’s possible to set clear, achievable goals for improvement and track the impact of interventions.

The collaboration between multiple organizations, including local and international partners, reflects the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing water safety. The report is a testament to how partnership can leverage a wide range of expertise, resources, and networks to tackle complex challenges like water safety, which often cross borders and affect entire regions.

The lessons so far include:

1. Most water systems did not perform adequate chlorination
2. Water often had microbial contamination at the point of collection and at the point of use.
3. Water system operators and local government officials generally had low water quality knowledge.
4. Most households were satisfied with water services, but many were willing to pay more for water that is regularly treated and tested.
5. Water systems rarely communicated with consumers regarding water quality.

This evaluation in Kenya, along with a similar evaluation in Ghana, will continue through 2025. Together, these two studies will enable the REAL-Water team to evaluate the effect of this novel financial and capacity-building intervention for water quality monitoring across diverse contexts in Africa. Although baseline results had many similarities across the two countries, there were also some key differences in water system management and local governance, source type, population served, and baseline levels of treatment.

Keep an eye on USAID Global Waters and RWSN for further updates on this exciting and important work. RWSN and Skat Foundation lead the global engagement for the USAID REAL-Water programme, lead by Aquaya