Changes

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 supports 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.

As such, RWSN blends a strong engineering capacity with the principles of balanced development, including institutional, financial and social aspectsdevelopment. The network acts is able to act 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.

[http://www.practicafoundationrwsn.nl Practica Foundation ch The Rural Water Supply Network website]