the
RURAL EXPERIENCE
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License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
South Sudan's population is overwhelmingly rural and remote, a distinction compounded by the lack of a developed road network.
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To solve the issue of a lack of central government revenue, a study in the Philippines found that rural communities are best served by encouraging local planning and handing over control of the water system to the local community.
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In South Sudan, local control would contribute immensely to developing sustainable solutions rather than temporary ones.
Ceará and a Rural Model for Sustainability
A study of several villages in Ceará, Brazil found three criteria for sustainability:
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Social sustainability, which can be achieved by involving the community in planning and execution
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Technical sustainability, which can be achieved by using diverse infrastructure
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and Environmental sustainability, which can be achieved by carefully analyzing available water sources and the risks of depletion
Image by John Deywid de Brito Camilo
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
The Hydrogeology of South Sudan
Much of the population of South Sudan lives on the west bank of the Nile, a region dominated by silty soils and relatively deep groundwater.
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As a result, open wells and pipelines do not work well, requiring constant maintenance, but small boreholes that feed the surface directly can work.
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The relatively widespread existence of usable groundwater also indicates that local systems of water provision could be feasible.
Microfinancing
Since water systems in South Sudan need to be built by small communities, microfinancing is often the best solution to procure money. Microloans for water services tend to be extremely small ($50-$100).
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Due to the high demand for water services, microloans tend to be in the best interest of banks as well as the individuals procuring those loans. Microfinance allows individuals lacking significant collateral to get loans from banks without significant capital to lend, democratizing water provision.
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License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en