Rural Water Supply Network
| Rural Water Supply Network | |
| |
| Location: | St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| Type: | NGO |
| Class: | Network NGO |
| Key work: | research facilitation, technology development, commercial technology application, consultancy |
| Website: www.rwsn.ch | |
The Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) functions as a global knowledge network with its secretariat hosted by a Skat Foundation, a resource centre based in Switzerland.
Assisting sector partners initiatives through knowledge sharing and dissemination is at the core of all RWSN activities. The organisation helps in cross-fertilisation of experiences and prevents "reinventing the wheel". RWSN helps in the preparation of case studies, technical notes and field monitoring reports. It provides technical back-up on low cost technologies and assists in the introduction of implementation procedures.
RWSN blends a strong engineering capacity with the principles of balanced development, including institutional, financial and social aspects. The network acts as a depository of knowledge and provides support to sector partners. RWSN concentrates on affordable, groundwater-related technologies that are easy to maintain and acts as a focal point for standardisation of low cost water supply technologies. The following four themes are known as the flagships of RWSN:
- Self Supply (SS) – private investments and household initiatives are incorporated into national and international strategies for rural water supply improvement.
- Cost-effective boreholes (CEB) – policies are adopted and practices are followed which bring about cost-effective borehole provision.
- Sustainable handpumps (SH) – the percentage of functioning handpumps is increased through the application of improved policies and practices.
- Handpump Technologies (HT) - sustainable technologies that are affordable and responsive to the needs of the users are utilised.
Main activities
- Increase access to basic water and sanitation services
- Maximise the impact of investment through successful application of cost-effective technologies
- Institutionalise technology selection and standardisation in a demand responsive environment
- Address institutional aspects of co-operation between all stakeholders
- Reduce well drilling costs
- Improve sustainability of existing water supply facilities through ensured supply chains for spare parts.
- Mobilise additional resources, especially at local level.
