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Access to continuous water supply is key for improving health and economic outcomes in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries, but the factors associated with continuous water access in these areas have not been well-characterized. We surveyed 4786 households for evidence of technical, financial, institutional, social, and environmental predictors of rural water service continuity (WSC), defined as the percentage of the year that water is available from a source. Multiple imputed fractional logistic regression models that account for the survey design were used to assess operational risks to WSC for piped supply, tube wells, boreholes, springs, dug wells, and surface water for the rural populations of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. Multivariable regressions indicate that households using multiple water sources were associated with lower WSC in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Mozambique. However, the possibility must be considered that households may use more than one water source because services are intermittent. Water scarcity and drought were largely unassociated with WSC, suggesting that service interruptions may not be primarily due to physical water resource constraints. Consistent findings across countries may have broader relevance for meeting established targets for service availability as well as human health.

Globally, the current stock of infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the rising demand for infrastructure services. Billions of people around the world lack access to essential infrastructure services, especially in developing countries. Infrastructure project development is an inherently complex endeavor. The ability of governments to prepare and deliver quality infrastructure projects that meet societal need hinges on the strength of their infrastructure enabling environments: the actors, resources, and conditions that facilitate the development of quality infrastructure projects. Governments in developing countries often are burdened by weak enabling environments, but it is not clear how this can be remedied to improve project development. The complexity of project development necessitates a systems perspective. This paper advocates for a systems approach to address project development challenges and strengthen the enabling environment. A systems analysis was conducted to map the infrastructure enabling environment, identify key relationships and causal loops within this system, and uncover leverage points to improve project development. A systems stakeholder map and causal loop diagram were employed for this investigation, using the INABLE Framework for the infrastructure enabling environment as a reference. The systems stakeholder map highlights the central role of dedicated government institutions, the need for trust between stakeholders, and the role of power dynamics within these relationships. Similarly, the causal loop diagram demonstrates the limits of debt financing, the potential of quick-win projects and success stories to drive investor confidence, the trade-offs between affordability and bankability, and the power of data and information to drive decision-making. Using a case study application in Saint Lucia, the systems analysis is grounded in practical examples of system dynamics within the enabling environment. The case study highlights the role of legislation and institutional structures, and the impact of external technical assistance from development financiers and civil society in supporting the enabling environment. Practical Applications: Sustainable development is rooted in meeting present needs without compromising the ability to do so in the future. It is rooted in preserving the natural systems that enable human life, while balancing the needs of society and economy, and ensuring quality of life for all. Infrastructure is essential to achieve sustainable development. It is foundational to human life. However, the infrastructure currently in place is not sufficient to meet the needs of growing populations. This paper investigated the systems that enable infrastructure development in developing countries to understand the challenges that prevent infrastructure from being built and to uncover potential solutions to address these challenges. The primary audience of this research is developing-country government agencies that are responsible for infrastructure development, and the organizations that support them. In North America, these are engineering consulting firms, federal government agencies, international organizations, and not-for-profit organizations that support infrastructure project development in developing countries. This work seeks solutions to the challenges these organizations and practitioners face in developing infrastructure projects. The paper presents a novel framework which provides common language that can be used to understand the enabling environment for infrastructure, a term which is not well defined or understood in this field. By applying the framework to a systems analysis and case study in Saint Lucia, the paper produced several findings, insights, and recommendations for government and development organizations to strengthen infrastructure development in their countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 2030 quickly approaching and hence the end of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) timeline, it is necessary to start the conversation as to what the post- 2030 international development goals, that will take over from the SDGs, will look like. Building on the experiences of implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and SDGs, there is the possibility of making the post-2030 goals the most efficient and successful to date. This perspective explores the lessons that have been learnt from the MDGs and SDGs, and together with a consideration of emerging global trends develops proposals for post-2030 goals and targets. In total seven goals are suggested: (1) Operate within planetary boundaries (2) Create growth within resource limits (3) Provide access to basic services for all (4) Eliminate poverty and hunger (5) Reduce inequality (6) Deliver good health and education for all (7) Build strong institutions and international partnerships. The goals are categorised as being: (i) Environmental and Economic (ii) Physical Assets (iii) Social, and (iv) Collaboration. System interdependencies and possible causal connections between the proposed post-2030 goals are also explored. A novel approach of five yearly assessments of the risks involved if the targets are not met, together with suggestions for corrective action is discussed, which will help inform governments and decision makers of the urgent actions needed. To avoid a disruptive future, careful formulation of the post SDG period beyond 2030 is urgently needed to provide a fair and consistent framework to hold both government and industry to account at local, national, and international levels. This will require the strengthening of existing international institutions and strategies for the financing of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how socio-economic driving forces influence households' choice of water, ranging from a piped water supply provided by Veolia to untreated sources contaminated with high levels of arsenic and pathogens. Households fall into three cluster groups based on variations in socio-economic status and physical, infrastructure, and institutional elements. About 64% of the variations are related to differences in awareness, willingness, and ability to pay for safe water sources. Families with higher monthly income showed interest in accepting Veolia's house connection options, resulting in the shutdown of six community tap points and ultimately affecting the low-income households' accessibility to Veolia water. A causal loop diagram showed five feedback loops influencing the choice of drinking contaminated water. Bayesian Network models were sensitive to the ability, accessibility, and willingness to pay for safe water, deep tube well distributions, installation and maintenance costs, ownership of tube wells, household income level, and the level of awareness. Results suggest that the risks of drinking contaminated water can be minimized by raising awareness; accepting arsenic removal techniques; sharing expenses; training for deep tube well installations and maintenance; increasing Veolia pipeline coverage; and redesigning the tap point distributions. These results help identify the relative importance of such interventions to improve water security in safe water-poor areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to enhance and complement teaching about resource system feedbacks and environmental modelling. Students were given an interactive exercise based on a research model (ForeseerTM), developed by an inter-disciplinary research team, that explores the interconnectivity of water, energy and land resources. Two groups of students were involved, one of undergraduates and the other of graduates. Design/methodology/approach: The Foreseer model represents physical flows of the three resources (water, energy and land) using an interactive visual interface. The exercise was set up by giving students short instructions about how to use the tool to create four scenarios, and an online questionnaire was used to capture their understanding and their ability to extract information from the model. Findings: The exercise proved to be a helpful way to connect research and teaching in higher education, to the benefit of both. For students, it was an interactive and engaging way to learn about these complex sustainability issues. At the same time, it provided tangible feedback to researchers working on the model about the clarity of its user interface and its pedagogic value. Originality/value: This exercise represents a novel use of a resource model as a teaching tool in the study of the water, energy and land nexus, and is relevant to sustainability educators as an example of a model-centred learning approach on this topic.