Standards in the clean water industry
The research conducted by Ministry Spotlight in 2010 documented the remarkable response by generous and concerned Christians to the clean water crisis in developing countries, where more than 800 million people lack access to this basic need. Many of the more than 55 non-profits that claim a Christian identity in the clean water industry are doing outstanding work, but many could achieve a lot more and some are inadvertently furthering dependency, fostering community conflict and providing opportunities for government corruption . The lack of standards and established best practice, particularly among the many Christian clean water organizations, is glaring.
Concentric is working with Living Water International, currently the largest US-based Christian clean water organization, to draw upon the collective experience of the Christian clean water industry to summarize a set of principles and standards for the implementation of clean water programs Such a set of standards has huge potential to raise the standard of work in the sector.
Expected result
Concentric is working with Living Water International, currently the largest US-based Christian clean water organization, to draw upon the collective experience of the Christian clean water industry to summarize a set of principles and standards for the implementation of clean water programs Such a set of standards has huge potential to raise the standard of work in the sector.
Expected result
- A set of standards and documented best practice for organizations in the clean water industry to which individual organizations can agree to aspire or adhere to.
- A self assessment instrument organizations can use to assess the sophistication and effectiveness of their work across 8 key program areas that clearly identifies additional measures they can take to become even better.
- An agreed set of clean water program standards would help raise the standard of work among existing and new Christian clean water organizations, enabling them to achieve greater and longer lasting impact with donor dollars.
- If done well, standards of this sort could influence the clean water sector more broadly. There is precedence for Christian organizations taking such leadership with the Gift In Kind standards developed by AERDO (Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations, recently renamed ACCORD see http://www.aerdo.net/GIK/GIK_standards.php) which have now been adopted by USAID and other major aid organizations.