Publications

This annual report provides more detail of the strategic position choices SNV made in East and Southern Africa in 2007 and illustrates our approach with case studies from our practice.

The brochure is a compilation of various case studies illustrating the impact of SNV's work in the life of millions of people in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

It portrays the approaches and methods used by SNV to empower local communities, businesses and organisations to break the cycle of poverty by providing them with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services.

This Practice Brief shares experiences from SNV’s practice in supporting small town water companies in several African countries. As part of sector-wide reforms being undertaken in these countries and elsewhere in Africa, dedicated agencies have been created to deliver water and sanitation services to local populations. Their emergence marks the transition from poorly-managed and inefficient water utilities to more commercially viable service providers that can expand and sustain access to affordable basic services. SNV has provided extensive capacity building support to enable the nascent utilities to improve their service delivery, with a focus on enhancing their planning and operational capacities. Linked to this, significant efforts have been made to strengthen relations between small town water companies, their customers and other stakeholders.

One of the arguments commonly advanced against commercialisation is that this will take place at the expense of the poor. While this risk is acknowledged, the experiences discussed in the Practice Brief confirm that poorer groups in small towns and peri-urban areas - who are disproportionately affected by inadequate services - can benefit from socially responsible commercialisation. However, targeted support needs to be combined with pro-poor policies if it is to deliver the desired results.

Rwanda is on its way to becoming an important service hub in East Africa’s economically vibrant market. Positioned in a resource-rich region, Rwanda has wagered on increasing its attractiveness for business through establishing a stable political environment with modern institutions and urban amenities. The cityscapes of Kigali as well as satellite towns such as Musanze, Huye, Rwamagana and Rubavu are changing almost daily.

However, livelihood in the rural areas still largely depends on subsistence farming. Embattled with low production levels coupled with the hardship of fetching water and firewood rural Rwandans are eager to find ways to earn a share in the country’s progress.

Working in close collaboration with the national authorities, SNV builds capacity and provides solutions for access to clean water and proper sanitation, renewable energy and agriculture. We contribute to local economic development through mobilising specialised knowledge and skills for management, better cultural practices, market linkages, improved accountability relations and favourable policies.

This document presents a bird’s eye view of how we work together with our partners to advance renewable energy, water, sanitation and hygiene and agriculture in Rwanda.

Capability statement for WASH in Africa

Powerpoint presentation on scan WASH-IWRM

Michael Porters Value Chain in water and sanitation