Using Social Network Analysis in WASH Programs

Information and resource flows affect the ability of stakeholder networks to coordinate and act to make WASH services more effective and sustainable. The Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership (SWS) applied social network analysis (SNA) in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Cambodia to better understand the relationships and dynamics that disable WASH sustainability and identify opportunities to improve cooperation, collaboration, and overall collective results. By documenting the application of SNA in different SWS geographic locations, this report provides insight into how to effectively apply SNA to advance sustainable WASH services in low-resource settings. The analysis and recommendations are relevant to development practitioners seeking to improve the use of SNA and other systems tools in their work.