TY  - UNPD
A1  - Deffner, Jutta
A1  - Mazambani, Clarence
T1  - Participatory empirical research on water and sanitation demand in central northern Namibia: a method for technology development with a user perspective
N2  - Improvements in water infrastructure in developing countries are of major importance for achieving access to clean water. CuveWaters, a research based IWRM project, currently underway in Namibia, is testing different technical options to de-centralise water supply and upgrade sanitation. The Cuvelai Basin is affected by highly variable precipitation, mostly saline groundwater and a lack of perennial rivers. Water management is characterised by strong dependency on a water pipeline. Finding ways to improve the situation calls for a good grasp of the local situation regarding water utilisation patterns. Technologically sophisticated concepts can easily clash with users’ socio-cultural needs and everyday behaviour as well as their understanding of planning and maintenance. A demand-responsive approach has therefore been developed. It combines a qualitative socio-empirical perspective with participatory planning. This paper discusses method development, empirical application and results. The approaches aim is to support mutual learning as a basis for a sustainable change process.
T3  - CuveWaters Papers - 7 
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/27169
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-271693
PB  - Inst. for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE)
CY  - Frankfurt/Main
ER  -