systems thinking

Case Studies

Presentation: Using Network Analysis to Understand Alignment Toward Collective Action

At University of North Carolina’s 2018 Water and Health Conference, University of Colorado Boulder's Kimberly Pugel presented two case studies to highlight a method SWS is using to visualize the priorities of each actor within a network by combining standard network analysis with qualitative interviews. SWS partners are seeking to strengthen these networks of agencies, organizations, service providers, and users by increasing collaboration and consensus toward a common agenda. 

Blog

Local Investment, Lasting Impact

Cambodian local leaders pledge to lead SWP’s Water Security Improvement Process.

This blog originally appeared on the Sustainable Water Partnership website.

In Cambodia’s Stung Chinit watershed, 40 leaders from civil society and the private sector have pledged to actively participate in the Sustainable Water Partnership’s Water Security Improvement (WSI) process.

Blog

The River Belongs to the People

Team Leader Gordon Mumbo brings a lifetime of experience to the Mara River Basin.

This blog originally appeared on the Sustainable Water Partnership website.

Gordon Mumbo grew up in the small village of Kamuga, in Kenya’s Kisumu County. Year after year, he watched as frequent floods from one of Kenya’s major rivers, the Nyando, disturbed the peaceful flow of village life.

Brief

Understanding the Network that Sustains Rural Water Services in Uganda’s Kabarole District

This research brief presents findings from a network analysis of stakeholder relationships affecting rural water service sustainability in Kabarole District, Uganda. The USAID-funded Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership (SWS), with support from IRC, is bringing stakeholders together in a Learning Alliance – a platform for stakeholders involved in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) service delivery and engaged in testing and learning about methods for improving and sustaining it.

Video

It's about the Systems, Stupid | Patrick Moriarty | TEDxDenHelder

Patrick Moriarty, CEO of IRC, gave this TedX talk in the Netherlands in February 2017 to talk about the need for investing in systems to provide long-term solutions and instead focus on quick wins and opportunist leaders. He discusses what we can learn from people who are building systems in third world countries and the long term costs of pursuing quick wins.

IRC is a consortium member in the Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership (SWS).

Report

Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership: Context Analysis Uganda

Sustainable service delivery remains a huge challenge in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Sector. Achieving sustainable WASH, as defined by USAID, is when country partners and communities take ownership of the service, and there are local systems to deliver inputs needed to maintain results and deliver impacts beyond the life of projects. In order to achieve this goal at scale, new approaches to WASH service delivery and sustainability are needed.

Event

All Systems Go! IRC WASH Systems Symposium 2019

Are you a practitioner or theoretician of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems or the application of systems approaches to WASH? IRC in collaboration with several partners will be hosting a major symposium on building and strengthening strong systems to deliver safe and sustainable WASH services for everyone. The WASH systems symposium "All systems go!" will be held from 12-14 March 2019 in The Hague, the Netherlands.