IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/wdevel/v118y2019icp106-117.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reconciling global aspirations and local realities: Challenges facing the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation

Author

Listed:
  • Herrera, Veronica

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is ambitious and inclusive, but how well are these global aspirations likely to result in implementable policy change for water and sanitation? This article assesses governance challenges at the local level associated with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which pledges to ensure sustainable water and sanitation for all. The majority of developing countries manage services at the subnational level, making the quality of local governance the key ingredient for improvements in the sector. This article first reviews prior shortcomings in global monitoring efforts and how SDG 6 was formulated to address them. The analysis then examines local governance challenges facing SDG 6 and potential barriers to implementation. These barriers manifest as both contradictions within SDG 6 itself as well as contradictions between SDG 6 and the Sustainable Development Agenda more broadly. As SDG monitoring rubrics undergo further reformulations, it may be necessary to prioritize between goals and targets, or otherwise stagger the timing of their promotion and implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Herrera, Veronica, 2019. "Reconciling global aspirations and local realities: Challenges facing the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 106-117.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:118:y:2019:i:c:p:106-117
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.02.009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X19300348
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.02.009?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McDonald, David A., 2016. "To corporatize or not to corporatize (and if so, how?)," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 107-114.
    2. Bain, Robert & Bartram, Jamie & Luyendijk, Rolf, 2013. "Universal Access to Drinking Water: The Role of Aid," WIDER Working Paper Series 088, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Marja Hirvi & Lindsay Whitfield, 2015. "Public-Service Provision in Clientelist Political Settlements: Lessons from Ghana's Urban Water Sector," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 33(2), pages 135-158, March.
    4. Carlitz, Ruth D., 2017. "Money Flows, Water Trickles: Understanding Patterns of Decentralized Water Provision in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 16-30.
    5. Clemens, Michael A. & Kenny, Charles J. & Moss, Todd J., 2007. "The Trouble with the MDGs: Confronting Expectations of Aid and Development Success," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 735-751, May.
    6. Tarisai Garande & Suzan Dagg, 2005. "Public Participation and Effective Water Governance at the Local Level: A Case Study from a Small Under-Developed Area in Chile," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 417-431, December.
    7. Charles Kenny, 2009. "Measuring Corruption in Infrastructure: Evidence from Transition and Developing Countries," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 314-332.
    8. Herrera, Veronica, 2014. "Does Commercialization Undermine the Benefits of Decentralization for Local Services Provision? Evidence from Mexico’s Urban Water and Sanitation Sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 16-31.
    9. Cullen S Hendrix & Idean Salehyan, 2012. "Climate change, rainfall, and social conflict in Africa," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 49(1), pages 35-50, January.
    10. Nejat Anbarci & Monica Escaleras & Charles A. Register, 2009. "The Ill Effects of Public Sector Corruption in the Water and Sanitation Sector," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 85(2), pages 363-377.
    11. Philippe Marin, 2009. "Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities : A Review of Experiences in Developing Countries," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2703, December.
    12. Díaz-Cayeros, Alberto & Magaloni, Beatriz & Ruiz-Euler, Alexander, 2014. "Traditional Governance, Citizen Engagement, and Local Public Goods: Evidence from Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 80-93.
    13. Véronique D.N. Dupont, 2011. "The Dream of Delhi as a Global City," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 533-554, May.
    14. Davis, Jennifer, 2004. "Corruption in Public Service Delivery: Experience from South Asia's Water and Sanitation Sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 53-71, January.
    15. Daanish Mustafa & Philip Reeder, 2009. "‘People Is All That Is Left to Privatize’: Water Supply Privatization, Globalization and Social Justice in Belize City, Belize," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 789-808, September.
    16. Kumar, Tanu & Post, Alison E. & Ray, Isha, 2018. "Flows, leaks and blockages in informational interventions: A field experimental study of Bangalore's water sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 149-160.
    17. Lemos, Maria Carmen & de Oliveira, Joao Lucio Farias, 2004. "Can Water Reform Survive Politics? Institutional Change and River Basin Management in Ceara, Northeast Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 2121-2137, December.
    18. Herrera, Veronica & Post, Alison E., 2014. "Can Developing Countries Both Decentralize and Depoliticize Urban Water Services? Evaluating the Legacy of the 1990s Reform Wave," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 621-641.
    19. García Cardona, Alejandra, 2010. "La contaminación del río Medellín (2006-2011): un mercado político," Revista Lecturas de Economía, Universidad de Antioquia, CIE, August.
    20. Indranil De & Tirthankar Nag, 2016. "Dangers of Decentralisation in Urban Slums: A Comparative Study of Water Supply and Drainage Service Delivery in Kolkata, India," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 34(2), pages 253-276, March.
    21. Wester, Philippus & Merrey, Douglas J. & de Lange, Marna, 2003. "Boundaries of Consent: Stakeholder Representation in River Basin Management in Mexico and South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 797-812, May.
    22. Robert Bain & Rolf Luyendijk & Jamie Bartram, 2013. "Universal Access to Drinking Water: the Role of Aid," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-088, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dias, Vitor M. & Soares, Pedro Paulo de Miranda Araújo & Brondizio, Eduardo S. & Cruz, Sandra Helena Ribeiro, 2021. "Grassroots mobilization in Brazil’s urban Amazon: Global investments, persistent floods, and local resistance across political and legal arenas," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    2. Lisa Bagnoli & Salvador Bertomeu-Sanchez & Antonio Estache & Maria Vagliasindi, 2023. "Does the ownership of utilities matter for social outcomes? A survey of the evidence for developing countries," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 24-43, January.
    3. Venkatesh Baskaran & Velkennedy R, 2022. "A systematic review on the role of geographical information systems in monitoring and achieving sustainable development goal 6: Clean water and sanitation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1417-1425, October.
    4. Maria Inês Pedrosa Nahas & Rodrigo Coelho Carvalho & Léo Heller, 2023. "A Framework to Assess and Monitor Human Rights to Water and Sanitation at the Municipal Scale: A Study case in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 645-665, August.
    5. Ting Guan & Ke Meng & Wei Liu & Lan Xue, 2019. "Public Attitudes toward Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from Five Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Alma Elisabeth Peirson & Gina Ziervogel, 2021. "Sanitation Upgrading as Climate Action: Lessons for Local Government from a Community Informal Settlement Project in Cape Town," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, August.
    7. Baskaran Venkatesh & R Velkennedy, 2023. "Formulation of citizen science approach for monitoring Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation for an Indian city," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 56-66, February.
    8. Jemal Fito & Stijn W. H. Hulle, 2021. "Wastewater reclamation and reuse potentials in agriculture: towards environmental sustainability," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 2949-2972, March.
    9. Kherbache, Nabil & Oukaci, Kamal, 2020. "Assessment of capital expenditure in achieving sanitation-related MDG targets and the uncertainties of the SDG targets in Algeria," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    10. Kenatu Angassa & Berhanu Assefa & Kebede K. Kefeni & Thabo T. I. Nkambule & Jemal Fito, 2022. "Brewery industrial wastewater treatment through mesocosm horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 265-275, June.
    11. Lisa Bagnoli & Salvador Bertomeu & Antonio Estache & Maria Vagliasindi, 2020. "Are the Poor Better Off with Public or Private Utilities ?A Survey of the Academic Evidence on Developing Economies," Working Papers ECARES 2020-24, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    12. Beard, Victoria A. & Mitlin, Diana, 2021. "Water access in global South cities: The challenges of intermittency and affordability," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    13. Silvana Pacheco-Treviño & Mario G. Manzano-Camarillo, 2024. "The Socioeconomic Dimensions of Water Scarcity in Urban and Rural Mexico: A Comprehensive Assessment of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, January.
    14. Ajishnu Roy & Aman Basu & Yanyu Su & Yan Li & Xuhui Dong, 2022. "Understanding Recent Trends in Global Sustainable Development Goal 6 Research: Scientometric, Text Mining and an Improved Framework for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    15. Soumya Balasubramanya & David Stifel & Muzna Alvi & Claudia Ringler, 2022. "The role of social identity in improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health services: Evidence from Nepal," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(4), July.
    16. Marisha Lamond & Bhim Adhikari, 2020. "Assessing the Sustainability of Sanitation Systems in Peri-Urban Areas: Insights from Nepal," Journal of Development Innovations, KarmaQuest International, vol. 4(2), pages 43-62, December.
    17. Revilla, Ma. Laarni D. & Qu, Fangqi & Seetharam, K E & Rao, Bhanoji, 2021. "“Sanitation” in the Top Development Journals: A Review," ADBI Working Papers 1253, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    18. Md. Sujahangir Kabir Sarkar & Mahesti Okitasari & Md. Rajibul Ahsan & Abul Quasem Al-Amin, 2022. "Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh: An Inclusive Framework under Local Governments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    19. Carvalho, Anne Emília Costa & Sampaio, Raquel Menezes Bezerra & Sampaio, Luciano Menezes Bezerra, 2023. "The impact of regulation on the Brazilian water and sewerage companies’ efficiency," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    20. Love Kumar & Ramna Kumari & Avinash Kumar & Imran Aziz Tunio & Claudio Sassanelli, 2023. "Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-38, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Herrera, Veronica & Post, Alison E., 2014. "Can Developing Countries Both Decentralize and Depoliticize Urban Water Services? Evaluating the Legacy of the 1990s Reform Wave," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 621-641.
    2. Olivia Jensen & Namrata Chindarkar, 2019. "Sustaining Reforms in Water Service Delivery: the Role of Service Quality, Salience, Trust and Financial Viability," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 33(3), pages 975-992, February.
    3. Antonio Estache, 2014. "Infrastructure and Corruption: a Brief Survey," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2014-37, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    4. Beard, Victoria A. & Mitlin, Diana, 2021. "Water access in global South cities: The challenges of intermittency and affordability," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Camos Daurella,Daniel & Estache,Antonio, 2017. "Regulating water and sanitation network services accounting for institutional and informational constraints," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8149, The World Bank.
    6. Service Opare, 2011. "Sustaining water supply through a phased community management approach: lessons from Ghana’s “oats” water supply scheme," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(6), pages 1021-1042, December.
    7. Devkar, Ganesh A. & Mahalingam, Ashwin & Deep, Akash & Thillairajan, A., 2013. "Impact of Private Sector Participation on access and quality in provision of electricity, telecom and water services in developing countries: A systematic review," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 65-81.
    8. Tadadjeu, Sosson & Njangang, Henri & Ningaye, Paul & Nourou, Mohammadou, 2020. "Linking natural resource dependence and access to water and sanitation in African countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Jonathan Chapman, 2020. "Extension of the Franchise and Government Expenditure on Public Goods: Evidence from Nineteenth-Century England," Working Papers 20200045, New York University Abu Dhabi, Department of Social Science, revised Mar 2020.
    10. Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza & Witthuhn, Stefan, 2017. "Corruption and political stability: Does the youth bulge matter?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 47-70.
    11. Gopalan, Sasidaran & Rajan, Ramkishen S., 2016. "Has Foreign Aid Been Effective in the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector? Evidence from Panel Data," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 84-104.
    12. Fotio, Hervé Kaffo & Nguea, Stéphane Mbiankeu, 2022. "Access to water and sanitation in Africa: Does globalization matter?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 79-91.
    13. Lisa Bagnoli & Salvador Bertomeu & Antonio Estache & Maria Vagliasindi, 2020. "Are the Poor Better Off with Public or Private Utilities ?A Survey of the Academic Evidence on Developing Economies," Working Papers ECARES 2020-24, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    14. Marson, Marta & Savin, Ivan, 2015. "Ensuring Sustainable Access to Drinking Water in Sub Saharan Africa: Conflict Between Financial and Social Objectives," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 26-39.
    15. Ndikumana, Léonce & Pickbourn, Lynda, 2017. "The Impact of Foreign Aid Allocation on Access to Social Services in sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Water and Sanitation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 104-114.
    16. John Nana Francois & Johnson Kakeu & Cristelle Kouame, 2021. "Do Better Institutions Broaden Access To Sanitation In Sub‐Sahara Africa?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 39(2), pages 435-452, April.
    17. Ranjula Bali Swain & Supriya Garikipati & Fan Yang Wallentin, 2020. "Does Foreign Aid Improve Gender Performance in Recipient Countries?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(7), pages 1171-1193, October.
    18. Molle, François & Wester, Philippus & Hirsch, Philip, 2010. "River basin closure: Processes, implications and responses," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 569-577, April.
    19. Lynda Pickbourn & Raymond Caraher & Léonce Ndikumana, 2022. "Does project-level aid for water and sanitation improve child health outcomes?: Evidence from household panel data in Uganda," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-141, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    20. Chandan Deuskar, 2020. "Informal urbanisation and clientelism: Measuring the global relationship," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(12), pages 2473-2490, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:118:y:2019:i:c:p:106-117. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/worlddev .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.