From research outputs to development outcomes—selected stories - Water Scarcity, Livelihoods and Food Security - page 190

little about and for which they are not trained. Practitioners have to engage
with local users to determine current and future needs and then design, build
and manage the necessary water infrastructure. MUS need new professional
training curricula and new policies, regulations and institutions.
The project implemented MUS and scaled them up at intermediate, national
and global levels in eight countries with 150 partners. In the eight countries,
action research highlighted the benefits people derive from MUS designed for
a single purpose. Research showed that developing multiple water sources and
increasing water availability from 20 liters (the minimum recommended by
WHO) to 100 liters per capita per day, raised yearly income derived from water
from US$40 to US$300 per household.
The core team set up learning alliances with partners in the basins of the
Andes (Bolivia and Colombia), Indus-Ganges (India and Nepal), Limpopo
(South Africa and Zimbabwe), Mekong (Thailand) and Nile (Ethiopia), which
enabled important local innovations. Global advocacy put MUS on the policy
agendas of professional networks such as the World Water Forum, govern-
mental and non-governmental water agencies, and rural development and
financing organizations.
Nepal: Important impacts
The USA-based international NGO IDE has a long history in Nepal working
with Winrock, local NGOs and governments at both national and local levels.
IDE and its partners implemented learning alliances at national, district and
local levels in over 80 projects, which is remarkable given the country's political
and civil turmoil. The MUS project partnership complemented IDE-Winrock
and their partners, which enhanced the credibility of MUS and learning
alliances in Nepali eyes.
Learning alliances in Nepal helped break down institutional barriers
between the agricultural and domestic water supply sectors. The IDE-Winrock
Project shifted from working with individual households to working with
communities. IDE credits the MUS Project Leader with pushing them to take
a more participatory and gender-balanced approach than they might otherwise
have used.
The Nepal Department of Irrigation (NDI) had previously initiated a non-
traditional irrigation project to reach more people. Introducing MUS provided
quick and visible successes, which led to positive recognition within NDI.
NDI has now adopted a practical approach to including domestic water
services in its irrigation schemes, which IDE anticipates will soon become
policy. Much of the support for MUS for domestic water came from demands
from communities using local budgets. MUS schemes were approved by the
government for investment on a cost-share basis.