www.worldbank.org/water | www.blogs.worldbank.org/water | @WorldBankWater

Achieving Sustainable Water

and Sanitation Outcomes with

Indigenous Peoples in LAC

Lilian Pena P. Weiss and Miguel Vargas-Ramirez

November 29, 2016

An inter-disciplinary team

• Led by Lilian Pena (Sr. WSS Specialist), Dianna Pizarro (Sr. Social Development Specialist) and Miguel Vargas-Ramirez (Sr. WSS Specialist).

• Written by Clémentine Stip (WSS Consultant)

• Supported by – Ximena Traa-Valarezo (Anthropologist)

– Franz Rojas (Sr. WSS Specialist)

– Fernando Laca (Sr. WSS Specialist)

– Koffi Ekouevi (Sr. Economist)

– Ella Lazarte (WSS Specialist)

– Graciela Sanchez Martinez (Sr. Social Development Specialist)

– Santiago Scialabba (Social Development Specialist)

– Consultants: Sophie Theis, Ananda Paez, Sophie Ayling and Elizabeth Eiseman.

Why do we need a Toolkit to work with IPs?

Indigenous peoples are the last mile to reach universal

WSS coverage in LAC.

2

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Access gap: Improved Sanitation

Indigenous Non-indigenous

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Access gap: piped water

Indigenous Non-indigenous

Regional

Gap

26%

Regional

Gap

20%

Source: WB Equity Lab

3

A Ngobe woman carries water

for her family, Panama.

Wayúu children collect water, La

Guajira.

Why do we need a Toolkit to work with IPs?

Even when investments target IPs, sustainability

remains an issue.

4

8%

82%

0% 3%

33%

64%

Never Sometimes Always

Handwashing practices in rural Panama

Indigenous Non-Indigenous

31%

69%

45%

55%

0%

100%

Sustainable At risk

Sustainability of rural WSS committees in Nicaragua

All Indigenous groups Non-indigenous Alto Wangki Bocay

Source: SIASAR

Methodology

• Desk review

• Key informant

interviews

• Field work in

seven countries

5

‘Busting’ old myths…

6

IPs don’t use sanitation solutions.

Piped water is against their cosmovision.

They don’t want to pay for water.

It’s too difficult to work with IPs.

Toolkit Guiding Principles

7

Respect

Ownership

Sustainability

Aligned with the project cycle of a WSS intervention.

Focused on experiences and tools.

Respect

The recognition and respect for Indigenous peoples’

values, cultures, traditional organizations, and

preferences in designing and implementing WSS

projects.

8

Respect

• Take into account the Indigenous cosmovision and traditional structures at the national, regional and local levels.

9

• Ensure that there is local

capacity to work with IPs (local

language, knowledge of the

local context and practices)

and expertise on WSS

WSS committee certificate

presentation to the Cacique,

Panama.

Respect

• Ensure that investment prioritization includes

Indigenous areas and responds to the local

priorities.

• Participation of Indigenous authorities

• Community Diagnosis

10

Consultation processes in various Indigenous communities of Argentina.

Diagnosis – Water for People in Bolivia

11

Respect

• Develop an intercultural participation strategy that

establishes clear rules for decision-making and

communication while respecting traditional organization.

• Past conflicts

• Appropriate budget

• Women’s participation

12

Tool for consultations

13

Ownership

Ownership is a community’s commitment to adopt and

use WSS services and to operate and maintain the

system.

14

Ownership

• Propose WSS solutions that incorpórate the community’s

practices and preferences, Indigenous traditional

knowledge and technical expertise.

• Use consultations to get the community’s approval on:

• Technical solution and management model

• Beneficiary contribution to construction

• System handover

15

• Adapt to local market realities through

flexible procurement and local

materials. • Distances

• Local capacity of the private sector

Ceramic filter,

Paraguayan Chaco

16

17 System handover ceremony, Panama.

Ownership

• Build on existing institutions for the provision and management of services, respecting cultural norms.

• There is no one-size-fits all for management • Transparent communication mechanisms

• Include traditional authorities

• Evaluate training needs

18

In rural areas, a WSS committee with clear statutes and regulations with technical assistance from a speacialized third-party.

In more concentrated areas, a WSS utility with strong social accompaniment.

Sustainability

For WSS services to be sustainable, it is essential that

adequate technology for each context be implemented,

and that clear and legitimate mechanisms for O&M and

responsibilities be in place in a way that is respectful of

Indigenous rules and norms.

19

Sustainability

• Prepare and implement culturally appropriate

trainings balancing existing behaviors with new

essential practices.

• Sanitation (adoption, use) and hygiene

• Potential for reuse

20

Sustainability

• Payment for services is accepted in the majority of the

communities visited.

• Alternative payment mechanisms

• Has to cover O&M costs!

21

Payment mechanisms encountered in the

field work

Type of contribution Example

Mo

neta

ry

Co

ntr

ibu

tio

ns

Fixed tariff Nicaragua (10 córdobas); Peruvian

Amazon (10-12 soles)

Consumption-based tariff Bolivia

O&M Fund Paraguayan Chaco

Incorporation of the tariff payment in

conditional transfers programs

JUNTOS Program in Peru is considering

including the payment of water tariffs as a

condition

No

n-M

on

eta

ry

Co

ntr

ibu

tio

ns

Land donation Tierras altas in Peru; Nicaragua

Faena/Minga Voluntary work in the construction,

maintenance and repair of the service in

Quechua and Aymara communities in

Peru, Ecuador y Bolivia.

Workforce Bolivia – user rotation for O&M tasks

Commitment to attend training,

workshops and WSS committee meetings

Bolivia – the users all have the knowledge

required to carry out committee

responsibilities 22

Sustainability

• Establishing a mechanism for

the provision of technical

assistance to operators is

essential.

• Incorporation of and/or

collaboration with the

traditional authorities.

• Train the TA provider to work

with IPs

• Adapt indocators, information

systems and feedback

mechanisms

23

High-level recommendations

• A national strategy for the WSS sector, elaborated jointly with IP organizations, that prioritizes Indigenous areas and identifies a work methodology.

• Complement Project teams with IP specialists.

• Include the beneficiaries and their traditional authorities in the definition of projects at the community level to better respond to their demands and preferences.

• Invest time and resources in the “soft” aspects (social accompaniment, training, consultations) along the Project cycle.

24

www.worldbank.org/water | www.blogs.worldbank.org/water | @WorldBankWater

Preliminary – for Internal Discussion

Thank you!

Lilian Pena P. Weiss

Lpereira1@worldbank.org

Miguel Vargas-Ramirez

mvargasramirez@worldbank.org

Merci!

Gracias !

Obrigado!