This initiative, led by UNU-INWEH, addresses a very difficult question related to understanding human knowledge, attitudes and practices around water and sanitation, with a focus on sustainable behaviour change with respect to health and well-being in rural, remote and marginalized communities in East Africa.

The initial phase of the research programme implemented a community‐centred, mixed methods approach to understanding linkages in two rural communities in Kenya.The approach included focus groups, semi-structured interviews, household surveys, community mapping, photo voice, rapid assessment surveys of water sources, water quality testing and hydrogeological investigations. The methodologies developed, and findings established, will be applied to the second phase of this initiative. In all cases, community members are trained to work with the researchers to undertake data collection, building local capacity as well as allowing for some economic gain on the part of the community.

The second phase of the project will focus on mobilizing these communities to address challenges related to water and health in an integrated manner that promotes community mobilization and ownership. By building upon pre-existing conditions, using strategies which require community participation, and making everyone part of the leadership of the project, the initiative will create a sense of community ownership as well as improved understanding of water-health linkages and the resources available to secure safe water provisioning.

As part of the process to understand how decisions are made and what information is required for informed decision-making, the project will facilitate community consultations of stakeholders to develop together a community vision. The community and project partners will work together to develop an action plan to implement that vision, which will be used to identify appropriate and sustainable solutions.

Project document