This report introduces the methodology of participatory community-based planning of multiple uses of water in partnership and coordination with local government and service providers, developed by the NGO AWARD.

Introduction to the SWELL methodology-final.pdf  (287 kB)

Financing of multiple use (i.e. domestic and productive) water services was identified as an important ingredient to ensure improved water access for rural poor and broaden livelihood options in South Africa. Following the principles of integrated water resource management (IWRM), efficient, equitable and sustainable investments in improved water services should be based on a thorough understanding of actual demand by consumers. Comprehensive studies looking at multiple use water services are not common in South African rural areas, where most of the economic analyses focus on either domestic or irrigation water demand. This study aims at filling this gap by assessing the household demand for multiple use water services in Sekororo-Letsoalo area in the Limpopo Province.

Kanyoka Farolfi Morardet.pdf  (738 kB)

This case study complements the paper with an introduction to the methodology. It provides an example of how SWELL has been applied in the Bushbuckridge Municipality in South Africa.

Case Study SWELL final.pdf  (609 kB)

This paper looks at current practices of local government in providing water for multiple uses. It pays specific attention to the way it does participatory and integrated planning for water services. These practices are contrasted that with the national policy framework. It is concluded that confusion over institutional responsibilities and lack of capacity at local government level are key limitations to integrated development planning. This results in poor participatory processes, and a failure to learn from past mistakes.

Read more or download BLM Institutional Analysis - Final Report.pdf  (495 kB)

This paper, which was presented at the 7th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP symposium in Lilongwe, Malawi, discusses the SWELL (Securing Water to Enhance Local Livelihoods) methodology, an approach for community-based planning for multiple uses of water, which seeks alignment with planning mechanisms at local government level. The application of the approach in Bushbuckridge helped creating a better understanding of the status of water services in the region and the constraints these pose on people's livelihoods. Involving intermediate level stakeholders proved to be crucial, but at times also difficult.

Read more or download Dlamini-Warfsa Paper - Final.pdf  (335 kB)

Marna de Lange (Water for Food Movement) and Tessa Cousins (Association for Water and Rural Development) wrote an article on using water to fight poverty for the The Mvula Trust 2006 Local Government Water and Sanitation Diary. They highlight amongst other the case study from Ma Tshepo and her successes in increasing food security and income, showing that backyard farming is not backward farming.

Mvula diary article.pdf  (1.79 MB)

This report analyses the concept of vulnerability in relation to water security for people's livelihoods. Particularly, it aims to find out how intermediate level stakeholders perceive vulnerability, and how they try to address this specifically in their various water and livelihoods programmes. It concludes that this specific focus on the most vulnerable households is lacking in most programmes. These typically do have a poverty alleviation focus, but do not differentiate between different types of households and their needs.

Read more or download vul paper - final version.pdf  (302 kB)

This reports analyses the role of water in people's livelihoods in Bushbuckridge, South Africa. Productive use of water is not a main contribution to people's income, but crucial in diversification and reducing vulnerability. There are many other livelihoods impacts of water suppply as well, especially in terms of drudgery. It shows how the type and scope of water-based livelihoods activities is shaped by access to water resources, water supply infrastructure and local institutions to manage water. Especially water supply infrastructure is currently a main limiting factor for water-based livelihoods in the study area.

Read more or download Water and livelihoods -BLM-final.pdf  (1.05 MB)

This MSc thesis explores the on farm implementation of low cost drip irrigation in Sekororo, South Africa.

Low-cost drip irrigation-On farm implementation in South Africa.pdf  (1.64 MB)

This section provides learning support material on the relation between water and livelihoods. It is directed towards agencies supporting communities on water-related interventions. It helps in analysing the role of water in livelihoods, and participatory planning of interventions to increase water security.

Read more or download AWARD LSM Unit 1 Web.pdf  (1.68 MB)