Water and Sanitation Markets in the Pacific: Understanding Demand and Fostering Sustainable WASH Marketplaces
Sanitation marketing has been identified as a promising approach for increasing access to adequate sanitation. However, it is unclear if sanitation marketing offers a coherent framework that can transform the WASH sector in the Pacific into a sustainable, demand-driven market. Further, access to clean water, a critical correlate of sanitation, is not adequately integrated with such approaches. This project will develop an understanding of water and sanitation markets and the demand for services in informal communities in urban/peri-urban areas of Melanesian Western Pacific countries (study countries are: Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea). Research will be done using the Community-based Participatory Research orientation method and will involve collection of qualitative data to gather locally-grounded insights with empirical survey-based approaches used later in the project. In addition, various participatory methods, including stakeholder and outcome mapping will be used to bring actors embedded in communities into discussion with actors in the enabling environment. The research findings will provide WaSH sector stakeholders, both in the Pacific and globally, with documented guidance, advice and support on enabling sustainable, demand-driven water and sanitation services. Project outputs will include a guidebook for enabling water and sanitation marketing in the Pacific and yearly communiques for local and national government stakeholders. This project is funded by the Australian Government Australian Aid program, and is in collaboration with the International WaterCentre.