Operationalizing Rural Water Management under Formal and Informal Management Systems.
Sustainable rural water service delivery remains a critical priority in Uganda, where communities continue to face challenges related to the operation, maintenance, financing, governance, and long-term functionality of water supply systems. While different management arrangements have been adopted to address these challenges, ensuring reliable, affordable, and sustainable water services requires stronger collaboration, practical learning, and effective implementation of appropriate management approaches.
This **three-day Learning Exchange** will bring together stakeholders involved in rural water supply and management to share experiences, discuss challenges, identify good practices, and explore practical solutions for strengthening rural water service delivery under both formal and informal management systems.
The exchange will particularly focus on Uganda's transition towards professionalized rural water management through the Area Service Provider (ASP) approach, while recognizing the important roles played by Water User Committees, community leaders, local governments, and other community-based management structures.
**Key Areas of Discussion**
- Understanding formal and informal rural water management arrangements in Uganda.
- Operationalizing the Area Service Provider (ASP) model and strengthening professionalized operation and maintenance.
- Exploring the roles and responsibilities of local governments, Water Supply and Sanitation Boards, Water User Committees, and communities.
- Strengthening financial sustainability through tariff setting, user fee collection, and accountability.
- Addressing challenges related to water infrastructure maintenance, functionality, and service reliability.
- Promoting community participation, ownership, and inclusive decision-making.
- Sharing practical experiences, lessons learned, and innovations from different rural water management approaches.
- Identifying opportunities for collaboration and integration between formal and community-based management systems.
**Learning Exchange Approach**
The event will use participatory and interactive learning methods, including expert presentations, panel discussions, group work, practical case studies, and peer-to-peer experience sharing. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on real-world challenges and jointly identify context-specific solutions.
**Expected Outcomes**
By the end of the Learning Exchange, participants are expected to have gained a better understanding of different rural water management approaches, identified practical strategies for improving operation and maintenance, strengthened professional networks, and developed actionable recommendations for improving the sustainability of rural water services.
**Who Should Attend?**
The Learning Exchange is open to government officials, Area Service Providers, Water User Committees, NGOs, development partners, private sector actors, researchers, community leaders, and anyone interested in improving rural water management and service delivery in Uganda.
**Participation is free. Participants will be responsible for their own accommodation costs.**
Join us for three days of learning, collaboration, and knowledge exchange as we explore practical approaches to strengthening sustainable rural water management in Uganda.
