<div>Operation and maintenance has generally, up until now, been seen largely from a technical perspective. It is suggested, however, that any failure of a system is ultimately the result of institutional and economic factors and not technical factors. Any system will need maintenance and will break down physically from time to time but sustained failure of a system results from inadequate finance, poor administration, lack of community support illustrated through the lack of payment for services, lack of adequately trained technical staff etc.. will cause the failure of the scheme although the physical symptom may be a failed pump or some other physical failure.</div><div><br/></div><div>If one area of capacity falls below the threshold there is likely to be a "domino" effect. If the person responsible for administration in a village ceases to function for any reason, before long the collection of revenue will fail. There will not be sufficient funds available to pay the technical staff or to purchase spare parts and physical failure will result causing a decrease in public support and reluctance to pay for poor services etc. It is essential that the capacity of the community remains at the threshold levels during the life-span of the infrastructure. Whilst some attention is paid to the technical aspects of operation and maintenance, there is little emphasis being placed on maintaining institutional capacity. Again the threshold concept is useful in providing a rational basis for the maintenance of institutional capacity.</div></div></div></div></div>
<br>
===Field experiences===
The following projects make use of capacity building.
<br>
{{RSR_table
|1image=project 367.png |1link=http://rsr.akvo.org//project/367/ |1project#=367 |1project name=SWASH in Birendranagar, Surkhet |
|2image=project 488.png |2link=http://rsr.akvo.org//project/488/ |2project#=488 |2project name=Community-based WASH Project in Nepal |
|3image=project 389.png |3link=http://rsr.akvo.org//project/389/ |3project#=389 |3project name=Rwenzori WASH Alliance Program |
|4image=project 490.png |4link=http://rsr.akvo.org//project/490/ |4project#=490 |4project name=Integrated WASH project for Acholi Sub region |
|5image=project 439.jpg |5link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/439/ |5project#=439 |5project name=Wetland Management <br>& Water Harvesting |
}}
{{RSR_table
|1image=project 823.png |1link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/823/ |1project#=823 |1project name=Child Friendly School <br>WASH Project I |
|2image=project 1366.png |2link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1366/ |2project#=1366 |2project name=Rural Boreholes and Rehabilitation 1 |
|3image=project 1367.png |3link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1367/ |3project#=1367 |3project name=Panta District <br>Rural Water Project 1 |
|4image=project 1381.png |4link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1381/ |4project#=1381 |4project name=Health & WASH <br>BHP Billiton Work Area 1 |
|5image=project 1634.png |5link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1634/ |5project#=1634 |5project name=Project <br>MULGRO |
}}
<br>
=== Acknowledgements ===
*Len Abrams. [http://www.africanwater.org/capacitybuildingcapacity_building.htm Capacity Building for water supply and sanitation development at local level]. A paper delivered at the 2nd UNDP Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Building, Delft, Netherlands. The African Water Page.*Donald Kaniaru, Xia Kunbao; Strike Mkandla; Levis Kavagi, [httphttps://www.unepunenvironment.org/Pdfresources/Capacity_building.pdf report/capacity-building-sustainable-development-overview-unep-environmental-capacity Capacity Building for Sustainable Development: An overview of UNEP environmental capacity development initiatives]. UNEP Division of Environmental Policy Implementation. December 2002.<br/>
*<div>F[http://www.washalliance.nl/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/sites/2/2013/06/fiets_sustainability_approach_color.pdf IETS sustainability approach]. Dutch WASH Alliance.</div>
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