Research report

For practitioners, technological choice plays a huge role in designing water supply and sanitation (WSS) systems. Often considered in isolation, this study looks at factors that surround technological choice. This is by no means an exhaustive list of factors, but rather an attempt to start looking more closely at what factors should be considered when making technological choices, and how.
This report presents the key findings of a study undertaken by Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region (RiPPLE) and Practical Action Consulting (PAC) in Ethiopia and Sudan in 2008. A sector review from Kenya was also carried out and included in the analysis.

The main purpose of this work is fivefold: to identify, document and compare factors affecting choice of WSS technologies in Ethiopia and Kenya through collaborative research; understand the links between the process of technology choice and its wider context related to participation, planning, governance and demand; to identify and establish potential for research and communication among practitioners; to develop capacity and establish channels of communication for strengthening the Nile region RiPPLE network; and propose further actions in collaborative research and communication. This study presents key findings with a view to sharing and learning from these experiences.