Assessing the effectiveness of locally-led public good climate investments in water infrastructure in Wajir County

A 2023 study of 23 climate-funded water investments in Wajir County, Kenya, found that boreholes are significantly more resilient and functional than water pans, which are highly susceptible to seasonal droughts and floods. While community-led planning increased ownership and sustainability, the study identified critical gaps in technical maintenance skills, spare part availability, and the integration of climate information during the design phase. The brief recommends improving climate information services, strengthening technical capacity for site committees, and allocating specific funds for ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

• The type of water infrastructure significantly impacts long-term functionality and resilience to seasonal changes. Boreholes were found to be highly resilient, with almost all fully functional projects being boreholes. In contrast, water pans lacked resilience against extreme weather, accounting for 100% of non-functional projects and 80% of partially functional projects due to issues like siltation during floods and drying up during prolonged droughts.
• The overall functionality of the 23 assessed investments varied, with 11 being functional, four partially functional, three non-functional, and four not in use during the site visit. While 19 of the 23 investments provided sufficient water for domestic and livestock use during the wet season, this number dropped to 12 during the dry season.
• Community involvement in the planning and management phases is critical for the success and sustainability of investments. Projects that actively involved social groups in prioritisation, planning, and decision-making fostered a sense of ownership, leading to more effective and sustainable strategies. The study recommends that planning also include broader water resource management entities, such as water service providers and water resource users associations.
• Technical and financial gaps hinder the maintenance of water infrastructure. Water user committees faced challenges including a lack of technical skills for routine maintenance, a shortage of essential spare parts leading to equipment deterioration (such as pumps), and insufficient funds for major repairs beyond the user fees collected by the community.
• Insufficient use of climate information during the design and siting of investments, particularly water pans, led to physical damage and functional disruptions caused by climate shocks, necessitating frequent rehabilitation.

APA

Jebiwott, A., Osumba, J., Orindi, V., Ododa, K., Magoma, I., Mohamed, T., Mohamed, J., Karaho, E., Rajabali, F., & Redda, R. (2024). Assessing the effectiveness of locally-led public good climate investments in water infrastructure in Wajir County. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/Technical%20Brief_Wajir_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Jebiwott, Alice, Joab Osumba, Victor Orindi, Kennedy Ododa, Ivy Magoma, Turane Mohamed, Jimale Mohamed, et al. Assessing the effectiveness of locally-led public good climate investments in water infrastructure in Wajir County. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2024. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/Technical%20Brief_Wajir_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{jebiwott2024assessing, author = {Jebiwott, Alice and Osumba, Joab and Orindi, Victor and Ododa, Kennedy and Magoma, Ivy and Mohamed, Turane and Mohamed, Jimale and Karaho, Esperanza and Rajabali, Fatema and Redda, Robi}, title = {{Assessing the effectiveness of locally-led public good climate investments in water infrastructure in Wajir County}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2024}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/Technical%20Brief_Wajir_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }