Blog 7: looking to the future- A systems thinking approach

Looking to the Future 


In these past 10 weeks, I have examined the colonial legacies within the sector as well as the present landscape, which makes it fitting to finish by looking at the future of the WASH sector. Rather than taking a micro-level, humanistic perspective, this blog will take a step back, and look at the wider systems in place, and how these can be adapted to improve the future of the wash sector. I will be advocating a System Thinking Approach (STA).

 

 

Why A STA? (Adali, 2020)

There is no doubt that WASH provision takes place in a complex system, relying on a network of people and actors to effectively provide sanitation (Figure 1) . This therefore makes the challenge of adequate WASH facilities far more than building wash infrastructure. The provision of WASH infrastructure has been central to the past 3 decades of WASH interventions, as it is far easier than challenging some of the boarder systems in place, however, this has infrequently achieved the desired consequences.

Figure 1: Actor and Institutions who are involved in the WASH provision 













STA is a philosophy of action. It is a way of working which recognises the complexity and interlinked nature of the real world. The holistic approach looks at interconnectedness within the system and how each element interacts with each other. 

An example of the stance of a STA, when considered the example of sanitation workers would be rather than providing better working equipment, a STA would consider the colonial legacies, failed infrastructure projects, labour market and social stigma. By doing this, the aim would be to provide long term, sustainable change. 

Key characteristics of STA:

Figure 2: Characteristics of a system thinker (The Social Change Agency)


Some of the key characteristics of a system thinker include active listening, humility, looking for connections and being open to different ways of knowing. 










Previous blogs have highlighted the need for decolonising of the sector (Blog 5) and community engagement (Blog 2), both of which can be achieved by adopting a STA. 

 

1.     Decolonising effect

Rather than drawing strengths from exclusive networks and rigid authority, it calls for breaking through hierarchical power structure’s which have dominated the WASH sector. By this acknowledgment, the Africa does not need to catch up with the Global North. WASH provision needs to accommodate the current landscape, and future predictions of Africa, which predict rapid urbanisation.  Designs, strategies, policy documents and frameworks need to be based on realistic assumptions and community needs. The Tippy Tap (blog 6) 


2. community engagement


The decolonising effect of STA calls for an awareness of power dynamics, which is necessary for community engagement. As its core, this ideology is economical, feminist and indigenous in its thinking, placing collective wellbeing above individual wellbeing. 

 

Knowledge production has historically been dominated by the Global North (Figure 3). A STA recognises the work and contributions of a range of actors, of which many contributions are founded in lived experiences.  Blog 6 highlighted the importance of informal knowledge, which is frequently devalued and marginalised. Euphresia (2021) stresses that consultation should be a continuous process starting at the project conception, and all the way through until after it has been completed to see if it meets the need it was designed to do so. 


Figure 3: A map of scientific knowledge production papers published. 








Conclusion

In conclusion, the improvements of the WASH sector will not be linear. It is characterised by constant change and evolution in response to external and internal drivers, with obstacles such as COVID and climate change impacting on it.  Improvements will also be complex- there are large scale complex issues which will require complex change. Despite this, I truly believe that STA provides a framework in which sustainable, long-term improvements can be achieved, which is why I hope that somebody who is embarking on their journey can use this blog as a starting point, rather than an end point.





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