A conversation with Arjun Pant and Grace Morgan

Abstract

In 2018, Evidence Action assessed the progress of their Dispensers for Safe Water (DSW) program, which aims to provide rural sub-Saharan communities with access to safe drinking water. Their research revealed an updated reach estimate of four million individuals across Malawi, Kenya, and Uganda and highlighted recent efforts to maintain the quality and adoption rates of existing water dispensers. The research explored the potential causes for a 6-25% population decline in the areas served by the program in 2017 and outlined strategies to address these challenges. Furthermore, the study investigated the room for additional funding, including continued reliance on carbon credits and future prospects of government funding and partnership development. The potential for self-sustainability mechanisms was also discussed, with plans to pilot self-help groups in communities served by the program. Future expansion of the program and engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure greater sustainability were also identified as priorities for further development. – AI-generated abstract.