Doing Development Differently: Bridging Policy, Practice, and Research for WaSH and Wellbeing
Date
2015
Authors
Schuster Wallace, Corinne
Watt, Susan
Cave, Kate
Mehta, Praem
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNU-INWEH
ORCID
Type
Technical Report
Degree Level
Abstract
At the dawn of a new millennium, world leaders came together in an unprecedented move and committed to a new global agenda to alleviate poverty and improve the wellbeing of the world’s poorest populations. Despite good intentions and significant progress on many fronts, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) failed to achieve many anticipated targets. Moreover, targets that were ostensibly met globally still left many behind. Entrenched views on aid, investments in development, and profit maximisation have not achieved global, regional, and national development goals. Most off-track countries for MDG targets are in Sub-Saharan Africa where there are clear inequalities in access, including rural communities, indigenous populations, women and girls, and those with physical impairments. Aid structure and policies must be redefined to recognise the urgency of this situation.
This report is the culmination of an initiative that brought together international experts from a variety of sectors to engage in a dialogue concerning water and related health issues faced by rural, remote, and indigenous communities. In examining health and wellness from a transdisciplinary perspective, we were able to build upon the knowledge that has been developed and to identify opportunities to translate that knowledge into policies that work. The main objectives were to:
1. Build networks between sectors;
2. Exchange lessons between researchers and implementers;
3. Exchange lessons between developed and developing regions;
4. Broaden the range of evidence used for decision making; and,
5. Contribute evidence for sustaining and up-scaling appropriate interventions.
It is argued herein that, within the context of mounting global pressures and stresses and a global dialogue on the agreed upon 2030 sustainable development agenda, it is appropriate to reflect on innovations that could drive a new development paradigm in support of more holistic economic and social development linked to environmental integrity. More specifically, one of the lessons to be learned is that it is the processes of development that require attention if we are to achieve a world of equity and sustainability. In other words, we need to navigate the space and harness the strengths of the policy, practice, and research interactions. This has to be accomplished in a manner that is transdisciplinary and trans sectoral, and which involves stakeholders in transparent and positive solutions. This latter point is extremely important, as many processes discussed within this document can be harnessed for good or bad intentions.
The purpose of this document is to highlight development challenges, particularly as they relate to the processes of development in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) sector, and put forward our understanding of how policy, practice, and research could be used co-operatively to achieve sustainable development through a multi-sectoral response. The report begins to identify the critical junctures at which policy, practice, and research must intersect to coherently deliver effective and appropriate WaSH. We propose a new model for doing development differently.
Description
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo/
Keywords
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Sub-Saharan Africa, water related health issues, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) sector
Citation
Schuster-Wallace C.J., Watt S., Cave K. and Mehta P. 2015. Doing Development Differently: Bridging Policy, Practice, and Research for WaSH and Wellbeing. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.