Community-based water management models frequently struggle to maintain longer-term sustainability for a number of reasons. These can include community members’ reluctance to pay for clean water which is often viewed as a free natural resource, and reliance on unpaid volunteers whose participation drops over time.
We are all aware that investments in water infrastructure alone cannot deliver lasting results. Infrastructure has to be supported by clear regulatory frameworks and professionally managed service providers to ensure water systems function effectively and equitably. The following is a case study from one of the most challenging contexts which outlines a service provision model which has proven to be effective.
About this resource
The case study illustrates two successful community-based water management structures in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and illustrates how community-led management can transition into professionalised service providers, capable of operating, maintaining and expanding complex water infrastructure.
ASUREP is an acronym for Association d’Usagers de Réseau d’Eau Potable. Mentored by Tearfund, two community-based entities are now community-based water service providers: ‘ASUREP La Providence’ and ‘Beni ASUREP’, both located in North Kivu province.
Following a period of structured training and support, the successful handover of management of the water infrastructure to the two ASUREPs demonstrates that when communities are empowered by law and equipped with the right tools, they don’t just consume water, they master the systems that provide it, ensuring quality and sustainability long after external partners have exited.
