Professionalized Services
How a system is managed long-term depends on the solution and the context.
When Water Mission provides safe water for communities, we want it to be safe water for life. This not only requires ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M) of the safe water systems we design and build; it also requires increasing revenue to cover the costs to keep safe water flowing.
Customized Approaches
How a system is managed long-term depends on the solution and the context. For some water projects, we heavily rely on communities, training and equipping local leaders (through SWCs) to operate and manage water systems. After a structured period of technical support (typically one to three years), we transition the project to the community and provide support on an as-needed basis.
But more complex safe water solutions can require more advanced technical assistance, oversight, and financial oversight recovery than SWCs are equipped to handle.
Because of Water Mission’s commitment to long-term access to safe water, we are increasingly focused on professionalizing the way safe water services are provided at scale. Professionalizing O&M aims to reduce the burden on communities, increase the operational and financial sustainability of safe water systems, and deliver a more reliable supply of safe water long into the future.
Professionalized Services Solutions
Water Mission has piloted various components and approaches over the years, aiming to achieve greater operational and financial sustainability.
Trade Water Pilot
From 2012–2017, Water Mission piloted water kiosks in Uganda and Malawi, offering communities new avenues for conveniently purchasing safe water. The lessons learned from these pilots have informed new approaches to service delivery and payment structures for water.
Prepay and Remote Management (PReMa)
The PReMa process manages water projects through robust technology (e.g., water meters), actionable dashboards that measure against clear goals, and compliance with critical design criteria, including cashless prepayment.
Performance-Based Funding for Water
Water Missions systems in Africa begin receiving performance-based funding, which is made available based on verified uptime.
Rural Water Cooperative (RWC)
The RWC supports rural communities’ long-term safe water needs through formalized community support contracts. Through the RWC, Water Mission sets up a long-term monitoring and support strategy for communities. By providing a full range of technical and managerial support —including financial sustainability planning water quality testing, preventative maintenance training, and uptime monitoring—we can ensure safe water continues flowing.
Expansion of Performance-Based Funding
Water Mission begins implementing household safe water connections.
Carbon Credit Pilot
The carbon credit process provides third-party verification of Water Mission's impact and allows us to leverage revenue from carbon credits to reinvest in local safe water systems.
Rural Water Service Provider Pilot Program in Uganda
Water Mission is piloting a regional water service provider model to provide long-term, sustainable access to safe water. This model involves launching private, local companies to provide professional water service to customers in a defined service area. Water Mission designs, builds, and then transfers operations to that private company. The provider is responsible for O&M, water quality testing, household connections, and ongoing innovations to serve customers better. This model can help us serve even more people, even more quickly.
