The article details the development and uses of the water poverty index (WPI). The index was developed as a holistic tool to measure water stress at the household and community levels, designed to aid national decision makers, at community and central government level, as well as donor agencies, to determine priority needs for interventions in the water sector. The index combines into a single number a cluster of data directly and indirectly relevant to water stress. Subcomponents of the index include measures of: access to water; water quantity, quality and variability; water uses (domestic, food, productive purposes); capacity for water management; and environmental aspects. The WPI methodology was developed through pilot projects in South Africa, Tanzania and Sri Lanka and involved intensive participation and consultation with all stakeholders, including water users, politicians, water sector professionals, aid agency personnel and others. The article discusses approaches for the further implementation of the water poverty index, including the possibilities of acquiring the necessary data through existing national surveys or by establishing interdisciplinary water modules in school curricula. The article argues that the WPI fills the need for a simple, open and transparent tool, one that will appeal to politicians and decision makers, and at the same time can empower poor people to participate in the better targeting of water sector interventions and development budgets in general.
Journal article
The water poverty index: development and application at the community scale
Natural Resources Forum, Vol.27(3), pp.189-199
2003
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Abstract
Details
- Title
- The water poverty index: development and application at the community scale
- Creators
- Caroline A Sullivan - Southern Cross UniversityJeremy R Meigh - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, WallingfordAnna Marie Giacomello - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, WallingfordT Fediw - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, WallingfordP Lawrence - Keele UniversityM Samad - International Water Management Inst., Colombo, Sri LankaS Mlote - Commission for Science/Technology, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaC Hutton - University of SouthamptonJ A Allan - University of LondonR E Schulze - University of Natal (Durban)D JM Dlamini - University of Natal (Durban)W CosgroveJ Delli Priscoli - US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, MOP Gleick - Pacific Institute for Environment, Development and Security, OaklandI Smout - Loughborough UniversityJ CobbingRoger CalowC Hunt - London Sch. of Hygiene/Tropical Med., LondonA Hussain - London School of Economics and Political ScienceMichael C Acreman - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, WallingfordJ King - University of Cape TownS Malomo - Commonwealth Science Council, LondonE L Tate - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, WallingfordDermot O O'Regan - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, WallingfordS MilnerI Steyl - University of Southampton
- Publication Details
- Natural Resources Forum, Vol.27(3), pp.189-199
- Identifiers
- 1803; 991012820689602368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Marine Ecology Research Centre
- Resource Type
- Journal article