multiple-use water services (mus): toward a nutrition-sensitive approach

This presentation was made possible by the American people through the U.S. Agency for

International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-11-00031, the

Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) project.

Multiple-Use Water Services

(MUS): Toward a Nutrition-

Sensitive Approach

Jordan Teague, MPH

USAID

September 11, 2014

MUS Defined

Participatory, integrated approach to water

management

Supports both agricultural and domestic

activities

Overcomes traditional

barriers between

domestic and

productive sectors © 2014 iDE UK

What does MUS look like?

Single source or multiple

source

Domestic-plus or

irrigation-plus

Basic infrastructure:

Water tank(s)

Tap stands near

households and fields

© 2014 IDEO.org

Supplemental Components of MUS

Watershed protection

Irrigation kits

Sanitation and hygiene promotion

Nutrition education

Support for growing nutritious foods

Agricultural and livestock extension

Linking Ag-Nut through MUS

Is MUS more nutrition-sensitive than other

approaches to improving community

water access?

How is MUS defined?

Who is designing MUS projects and where are they being implemented?

What are the commonly stated goals of MUS projects?

What are some of the existing assumptions behind improving nutrition

outcomes through MUS?

Has there been any documented evidence of the nutrition benefits of MUS?

Are there any best practices or lessons learned that may be applied to other

countries?

Methodology

Conducted a review of MUS-related activities

Identified promising MUS projects in Feed the Future countries

and reviewed relevant documents

Conducted key informant interviews

Compiled and analyzed results

Selected MUS Projects

iDE/Nepal

UNICEF/Ethiopia

CRS/Ethiopia

Winrock International/Nepal, Tanzania, Niger

Global Water Initiative/Ghana

Millennium Water Alliance/Kenya

© 2007 Felix Masi, Courtesy of Photoshare

iDE/Nepal

Main goals:

Increased income, women’s empowerment,

improved nutrition

Combined with:

Micro-irrigation technology and skills

Production/marketing of high-value commodities

Literacy, health, and nutrition trainings

Community organization and mobilization

© iDE/Nepal

iDE/Nepal

Better water quality

women are healthier

women have higher caring capacity

improved nutrition

UNICEF/Ethiopia

Main goal:

To demonstrate the benefit of MUS as an approach to improve WASH

services, food security, and nutrition

Combined with:

Community management of water supply

WASH in schools

School-managed market gardens

WASH in health facilities

CLTS

Communication for behavior and social change for sanitation,

hygiene, and nutrition promotion

Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), MUS, and Community-Based Nutrition Program

© UNICEF/Ethiopia

UNICEF/Ethiopia contd.

Combined with:

Production of complementary foods

Nutrition education in schools

Micronutrient supplementation

Strengthen capacity of health workers on

nutrition and data management

UNICEF/Ethiopia

Diversified economic use of water

production of highly valuable crops

increased family income

family nutrition

CRS/Ethiopia

MUS is core component of WASH strategy

Main goal:

To create water services that meet people’s drinking,

hygiene, sanitation, and livelihoods needs

Combined with:

Kitchen gardening

Household ecological toilets

Livestock support

© Millennium Water Alliance

CRS/Ethiopia

Access to water near house

women spend less time fetching water

women have higher caring capacity

improved nutrition

Winrock International

Main goal:

Improve health and livelihoods by meeting water

needs

Combined with:

Environmental sustainability (watershed

management)

Health (nutrition, sanitation, hygiene promotion)

Livelihoods (agricultural extension)

Winrock International

Better water services

more home gardens, livestock, and enterprises

income generation

better nutrition

Global Water Initiative/Ghana

Main goal:

Increase access to water supply to benefit household

gardening and livestock watering

Combined with:

Sanitation and hygiene promotion

CLTS

School health and hygiene education program

Gardening

Agricultural extension

Global Water Initiative/Ghana

Vegetable gardens

production of nutritious food

consumption of food

improved household nutritional status

Millennium Water Alliance/Kenya

Main goals:

To increase access to WASH and build resilience to climate change

to reduce diarrheal disease

Increase food security in areas with recurrent malnutrition

Combined with:

3-R – Recharge, Retention, and Reuse

CLTS

Household water treatment and safe storage

Hygiene promotion

Improved WASH in health and nutrition facilities

Kenya Arid Lands Disaster Risk Reduction Program

Limitations in Current Practice

Assumption without action

Lack of nutrition objective

Assumption without verification

Promising Practices

Using MUS as a platform for promoting

nutrition

Implementing nutrition-specific activities

alongside MUS

Inclusion of nutrition indicators in monitoring

and evaluation plans

Conclusions

Provides two necessary components for

nutrition

Water to improve health

Water for agricultural purposes

Provides opportunities for community

organization and women’s empowerment

Conclusions

Lessons Learned

Include relevant nutrition-related indicators

Additional programming may be necessary

Thank you!

Jordan Teague, MPH

JordanTeagueMPH@gmail.com

© CGIAR