multiple-use water services (mus): toward a nutrition-sensitive approach
DESCRIPTION
Multiple-use water services (MUS) is a participatory, integrated approach to water management that supports both agricultural production and domestic activities at or near the home. One of its principle strengths is that it overcomes traditional barriers between the domestic and productive water sectors. MUS has the potential to bridge agriculture and nutrition through water use: enhance crop production and household income, increase access to diverse foods, decrease disease transmission, and empower women and communities through income generation and time and labor savings. Additional nutritional benefits from MUS may be linked to safer drinking water and improved hygiene. With emerging evidence suggesting that stunting cannot be addressed without also focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), SPRING wanted to better understand current WASH and water strategies that sought to bridge agriculture and health to reduce undernutrition at the community, farm, and household levels. Pulling on examples from the field, this report highlights some opportunities and challenges around linking MUS to improved nutrition and outlines some promising practices for making MUS more nutrition-sensitive.TRANSCRIPT
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