Colonial Legacies in the WASH sector


In my first blog, I mentioned how current discourse surrounding the  WASH sector is embedded in colonial knowledge. The impact that colonialism has had, and continues to have on the WASH sector is something that I aim to explore further in this blog. I aim to draw these ideas together to pose the argument that Africa has had a western paradigm of ‘modernity’ imposed on it during colonialism which does not serve the needs of the local people, and in order to move forwards, African leaders and the West need to move away from this paradigm and find solutions which prioritise the needs to the local communities.


During colonialism 


During colonialism, the European empire generally refused to provide modern sanitation and water infrastructure in “native neighbourhoods,” instead used racial zoning and cordons sanitaires to segregate European neighbourhoods from epidemic disease. Nilsson (2017) gives an example of the French settlement Saint-Louis de Senegal in West Africa, where the colonial government only installed a piped water system to the European part of the town. A few years later, a cholera outbreak occurred, resulting in 1000 Africans dying but only 4 Europeans. The lack of provision resulted in huge sanitation deficits, and this foundation of systems is not designed to provide equal access to water and sanitation. During colonialism, western leaders defied native populations the rights to urban landownership and permanent residence, as well as urban migration controlled by pass law. Following the reduced regulation of African migration, urban growth took off, however, housing provision could not keep up with the unplanned demands, and slum settlements emerged without adequate infrastructure.  


Under colonial rule, sanitation and cleanliness became part of a native, "Constructed around race, modernity and development." The French medical officer in the colonial administration in Saint-Louis suggested that the reason for Africans being hit much harder were their “Unsanitary habits,” rather than their limited access to safe water. This narrative has extended throughout time, and highlighted why technocratic sanitation infrastructure has historically been favoured, despite its inadequacy. 



Where does that leave Africa cities, almost half a century since that have gained formal independence?


Colonial legacies


The majority of Sub-Saharan African states gained formal independence over half a century ago, yet colonial legacies remain.  According to UNICEF, an estimated 30-50% of WASH projects fail after just 2-5 years and this is partially due to "Modern ideals in the form of infrastructure," brought to Africa under colonialism. Infrastructure has a hardware and a software element, and therefore, part of infrastructure means that it varies depending on the context.  The study identified no relationship between public spending levels and access to water supply and sanitation, suggesting the impact of, "Large scale water technologies," which were prioritised as they were linked to 'Global North ideals' of modernity and progress. 


Nairobi, Kenya


. Nairobi is an example, as water infrastructure has been expanded several times to meet the growing demands of the population. It began under colonial rule when a British engineering firm designed a dam, modern filtration and gravity pipe to source water. When this didn’t meet demand, the municipality built another dam. In 1956, a third dam was built, this time carrying water 64 km. These dams were built so that the Europeans living in Nairobi would be provided the same service level that they were used to (demands of well over 200 litres per day). Since Independence, decision makers have been unwilling to change technological standards established during colonialism. Decisions in Kenya driven by desire for high capita consumption, which signals modernity. The rate at which dams were built under colonial rile is unsustainable, due to the financial and technical capacity to uphold it. 


Nairobi has experienced what Gandy (2006) calls “Incomplete modernity," which has favoured modernity despite it not meeting the needs of the community.

 

Looking Forwards


Braadbart (2009) refers to a Eurocentric, “piped paradigm" that has been unable to meet the needs of Africans, yet even after independence remains so stable. It cannot expand and provide services from the ever growing urban politics. This prehaps suggests that whilst there could be a market for technological, large scale projects if done so with community needs in mind, but also that small scale, community based water and sanitation solutions may be more successful in meeting local needs.  Nonetheless, key decisions makers in Africa need to represent the needs of its people rather than upholding an image. Holding on to these western norms and practices risks holding back innovations in water and sanitation, which could change the lives of communities across Africa. 























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