Learning Alliances in Water Sanitation and Hygiene: scaling innovation in service delivery in sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

Learning Alliances are a relatively new approach to emerge within the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector and seek to enhance the institutionalisation and scaling up of innovations in service delivery. In the context of WASH, Learning Alliances place an emphasis on establishing multidisciplinary interconnected platforms for interaction at different institutional levels in the sector, in order to address aspects of service delivery. This thesis examines a case of a project taking place in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda, which used a Learning Alliance approach to programme management. The project was aiming to build the capacity in the area of technology assessment and introduction through action research, in the development of tools which could be used by stakeholders in the sector. The paper draws from forty semi-structured key informant interviews, one focus group discussion and a further 52 Most Significant Change stories (Davis and Dart 2005), conducted among individuals taking part in the project or otherwise exposed to it through dissemination activities. Applying the Learning Alliance approach has meant stakeholders have been able to tailor project innovations to the local context. Capacity has also been built among those taking part in the alliance both in terms of technology assessment and the use of the tools. However, the study has revealed certain difficulties with institutionalising externally developed innovations in a short three year project timeline. Further research is needed to investigate the processes behind diffusion and institutionalisation of innovation in WASH Learning Alliances. Creating a favourable environment for ongoing support and implementation of innovations in service delivery should be a key area of focus for Learning Alliances going forward.