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Product Design Supporting Improved Water, Sanitation, and Energy Services Delivery in Low-Income Settings

Author

Listed:
  • Taylor Sharpe

    (Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA)

  • Christian Muragijimana

    (School of Public Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00100, Kenya)

  • Evan Thomas

    (Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA)

Abstract

Several approaches have been proposed in the literature supporting product design applied in low-income settings. These approaches have typically focused on individual- and household-level beneficiaries, with an emphasis on participatory, human-centered co-design methods. In this paper, we present a design approach that is, in contrast, focused on supporting providers of improved water, sanitation, and energy services. We establish requirements for design in these contexts, especially addressing design iteration. We describe sets of feedback systems between designers and various sources of expert knowledge, codifying roles of design stakeholders in this context. We demonstrate these principles across three case studies: a sanitation service monitoring technology in Kenya; a water flowmeter technology in Kenya; and a water storage monitoring technology in Sierra Leone.

Suggested Citation

  • Taylor Sharpe & Christian Muragijimana & Evan Thomas, 2019. "Product Design Supporting Improved Water, Sanitation, and Energy Services Delivery in Low-Income Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6717-:d:291418
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nick Turman-Bryant & Corey Nagel & Lauren Stover & Christian Muragijimana & Evan A. Thomas, 2019. "Improved Drought Resilience Through Continuous Water Service Monitoring and Specialized Institutions—A Longitudinal Analysis of Water Service Delivery Across Motorized Boreholes in Northern Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Evan Thomas & Luis Alberto Andrés & Christian Borja-Vega & Germán Sturzenegger, 2018. "Innovations in WASH Impact Measures," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 29099, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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