Transitioning to safely managed self-supply water in vulnerable communities in Indonesia & Vanuatu

A researcher conducts an interview with a resident in a rural setting in Vanuatu (UTS-ISF)  

Our thanks to research partner, the University of Technology Sydney - Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF) for this reflection on their project, Transitioning to safely managed water services: Risks and opportunities of self-supply for vulnerable populations, which wrapped up in December 2022.

Where we started

At the commencement of the project, there was little understanding of self-supply and its role in securing water for low-income households within the WASH sectors of both Indonesia and Vanuatu. More broadly, governments in both countries did not have a clear view or vision about the role self-supply might play in their respective pathway towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

The project

This project involved a close partnership with Universitas Indonesia (UI), University of the South Pacific (USP), UNICEF Indonesia and Vanuatu, Bappenas Indonesia, the Department of Water Resources in Vanuatu, SNV in Indonesia and local government in all study sites, including Kota Bekasi and Kota Metro in Indonesia.

The research aimed to support policymakers and practitioners to engage with self-supply water services and associated risks and opportunities towards transitions to safely managed services for all. The work has sought to understand self-supply water sources in terms of:

• prevalence, trends and typologies
• conditions that influence their adoption among poor households, including household decision-making
• their quality, reliability and cost, the factors that impact these parameters (especially sanitation and climate) and implications for health and gender
• appropriate policy responses and practices to minimise risks, maximise benefits and inform sector financing.

The collaborative research process also aimed to support improved government capacity in Indonesia and Vanuatu to monitor quality and reliability of non-utility supplied water sources, as well as support skills development amongst university research partners in both countries.

Where we are now

Now, government stakeholders, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the broader sector in both countries are aware of self-supply and understand the key risks and opportunities it presents. For example, Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) is paying significant attention to self-supply and ‘non-piped water’ as part of their SDG roadmap.

The project also achieved its aim to support improved government capacity in Indonesia and Vanuatu to monitor non-utility supplied water sources and support skills development amongst university research partners in both countries. Both research partners (UI and USP) are now proficient in conducting water quality testing, as well as household surveys and key informant interviews that capture critical information (including GEDSI) related to WASH services. The skills developed throughout the project will put both institutions in good stead to lead WASH research and evidence generation in their respective countries. This includes capacity development of female researchers, including Cindy Priadi and Gita Putri (UI) and Heather Molitambe (USP).

"This collaborative research work with students and staff participation has greatly enhanced skills that are invaluable for our future research endeavours. The project has developed the research capacity and skills of students here at the University of the South Pacific, particularly in conducting complex surveys and water quality testing."

Krishna Kotra, Science Programme Coordinator, The University of the South Pacific (Emalus Campus)

Broader WASH sector contributions

The project has also led to a wider appreciation and recognition of self-supply across the Asia-Pacific region through opportunities to discuss these issues at key global events. We expect the project to have a significant ripple effect through to policy and practice over the coming years, with government partners and UNICEF regional offices keen to continue engagement in this area.

Uptake is already evident in Indonesia where WASH stakeholders identified a range of recommendations in the National Workshop, which we will expect will lead to tangible changes and impacts in the coming years.

“Thank you for coming to Indonesia, especially Bappenas. The analysis of the self-supply management was really needed by us to know what we have. We need to do more in terms of self-supply. The recommendations have helped to identify what we need to move forward. We look forward to ongoing support from UI and UTS to continue developing a clear framework for self-supply.”

Nur 'Aisyah Nasution, Coordinator of Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Directorate of Housing and Settlements, Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning / Bappenas 

In Vanuatu, the data generated by the project will feed directly into the country water quality database and dashboard, and will inform estimates on water coverage in the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme. This will be the first-time data on water quality for self-supply will be included in national water coverage estimates for Vanuatu.

Other knowledge and learning from the project:

• A longitudinal study of multiple water source use in Bekasi, Indonesia: implications for monitoring safely-managed services 
• Microbial Contamination of Groundwater Self-supply in urban Indonesia: Assessment of Sanitary and Socio-economic Risk factors
• Safely Managed On-Site Sanitation: A National Assessment of Sanitation Services and Potential Fecal Exposure in Indonesia
• World Water Week 2022 presentation: Understanding household self-supply use and management in urban Indonesia

Find out more about this project on the UTS-ISF project website.