Kenya: USAID tender call for water and sanitation highlights multiple uses of water

A current call for proposals from USAID to support water and sanitation service delivery in arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya, highlights the role of multiple uses of rural water supply systems. It says that:

"Finally, it should be noted that rural water supply in Kenya is rarely used exclusively for domestic purposes, and most systems (surface or groundwater) provide water not only for drinking, cooking, washing and other household uses, but also for small-scale agriculture, livestock, and other economic enterprises. New rural water provision schemes often do not build in measures that take a diversity of needs and uses into account, and miss opportunities to meet more than one objective through cost-effective multiple-use systems. Well conceived multiple-use water systems can in fact contribute greatly to long-term system sustainability by increasing revenue generated from water use and raising incomes to permit long-term maintenanceof the system, and ensuring ecological sustainability that takes into account all demands on the community water source."

The call goes on to identify as the third of four programme objectives:

"Livelihoods and Multiple-Use: All water supply and sanitation infrastructure investments under this APS are required to provide for increased service access for domestic purposes. At the same time, applicants are also encouraged to propose strategic, innovative and integrated approaches that build on domestic service access and address a wider range of needs for water supply and sanitation to enhance resiliency, build food security and increase incomes."

For more information see the USAID website (APS Number USAID-EA- 623-06-048, Issuance Date: 08-10-2006, Closing Date 02-09-2007)