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TitleFrom practice to policy: background paper for the symposium on multiple-use services
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsSmits, S, Renwick, M, Renault, D, Butterworth, J, van Koppen, B
Secondary TitleBackground paper
Pagination20 p.
Date Published11-2008
PublisherIRC
Abstract

Multiple-use services (MUS) have emerged as an alternative approach to providing water services, aiming to meet people‟s multiple water needs in an integrated manner. The international symposium "from practice to policy" aims to bring together experiences from research and practice and help move towards understanding the policy implications. In this background paper for the symposium, we aim to provide a synopsis of current work in two parts: the first part looks at key concepts and definitions on multiple-use of water and the second reviews existing work on multiple-use services, especially that carried out over the past 5 years since the earlier 2003 Johannesburg symposium. We conclude that a lot of progress has been made in the conceptual understanding of the MUS approach, as well as in terms of insights into how people use water for multiple purposes and the benefits derived. Although progress has also been made in understanding how the multiple-use approach can be applied in practice, questions persist. These include issues of performance and sustainability indicators for multiple-use services, and questions about how to best replicate and scale-up the approach and accompanying institutional changes required. These questions can only be answered through an action-research approach in which multiple-use services are developed and institutional arrangements are addressed, and these changes studied, documented and lessons learned. Most importantly we recommend that further work should not focus on whether multiple-use services are a relevant alternative to existing service delivery models, but rather on developing further insights how multiple use services can be developed in an effective and sustainable manner.

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