Ending the Vicious Cycle of Aid Overlap: A Call for Smart Water Management Systems
Access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 6.1. Yet, millions in developing countries still suffer from a lack of access to reliable water sources. Contrary to popular belief, this is not merely a result of inadequate aid. In many cases, it is due to a pervasive but often overlooked problem: aid overlap.
Today, we will discuss how aid overlaps hinder the sustainability of water infrastructure and how to tackle the issue of one-time intervention without long term planning.
“If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.”
— Arabian Proverb
Understanding Water Aid Overlap
Aid overlap occurs when multiple organizations or government bodies implement water projects in the same community, often without coordinating with existing efforts. The results? Duplicated projects, wasted resources, and, ultimately, failed infrastructure. This phenomenon is not unique to any single nation—countries across Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Malawi, face similar challenges. The consequences of aid overlap can be dire, leading to wasted funds and communities being left without sustainable water access.
“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”
— Anonymous
The Devastating Consequences of Aid Overlap
Consider this all-too-common scenario: A community in need of a clean water source is identified through thorough pre-construction assessments. In response, an organization like Fairaction, sets up a smart water kiosk with built-in maintenance funding to ensure long-term viability. However, before the system can establish itself, a politician arrives, installing a new borehole and offering free water to residents as part of a political campaign. The new system lacks a sustainable maintenance plan, and soon, both the old and new systems become non-functional. The result? The community is left without access to safe water once again, and the cycle of inefficiency continues.
This problem isn’t just theoretical—it’s a widespread reality in many developing nations where water projects are launched without due diligence. Without coordination and long-term maintenance planning, millions of dollars in aid go to waste while people continue to suffer from lack of access to clean water.
The Real Cost of Redundant Water Aid
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”
— Benjamin Franklin
The issue isn’t just about wasted funds; it’s about the lives that are put at risk due to poorly managed aid initiatives. The cost of redundant water aid includes but not limited to:
Wasted Resources
A study conducted in Nigeria showed that many water projects are defunct within three years due to a lack of maintenance funding and oversight.
Undermining Sustainable Solutions
Sustainable water solutions depend on community buy-in and financial contributions for long-term maintenance. When a free, unsustainable borehole is installed nearby, the more sustainable system loses its user base and crumbles, leaving communities without water once the short-term solution fails.
Political Exploitation
Political figures sometimes use water projects for short-term popularity, drilling wells before elections without ensuring they are built to last. These projects often lack accountability, leading to their rapid deterioration.
This is a Global Water Crisis Issue
The issue of aid overlap extends far beyond Nigeria. Studies show that many water projects in developing nations fail within a few years due to a lack of planning, oversight, and maintenance funds. Without a shift in approach, billions of dollars in international aid will continue to be wasted on redundant infrastructure that fails to meet the needs of communities.
The Way Forward: Policy and Structural Reforms to Solve Water Sustainability Aid Overlap
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”
— Benjamin Franklin
To break the cycle of aid mismanagement and waste, governments, donors, and development organizations must adopt a new approach to water governance. This requires:
1. Comprehensive Pre-Project Mapping
Governments should mandate pre-construction assessments before approving any water projects. Tools like the Target 6.1 Map provide essential data on communities in need, those with unsustainable aid, and those already benefiting from sustainable water solutions.
2. Centralized Oversight and Coordination
A national or regional regulatory body must track all water projects to avoid redundant initiatives. Before approving new projects, authorities should ensure they complement existing efforts rather than undermine them. This can be done with a centralized management system like the Target 6.1 Map.
3. Mandatory Maintenance and Sustainable Water Solutions
Every clean water project should include a long-term sustainability plan, backed by designated funds for repairs and ongoing maintenance. Drilling boreholes without provisions for upkeep should no longer be an acceptable practice.
4. Prioritizing Water Sustainability Models
Funding should be directed toward water projects with a proven sustainability framework rather than traditional one-time installations. Organizations with a track record of maintaining their projects should receive priority for funding, ensuring resources are not wasted on short-term solutions.
The Cost of Inaction
The consequences of aid overlap are more than just financial losses. The real victims are the millions of people left without access to clean water, forced to rely on unsafe sources that lead to waterborne diseases.
Samuel Adeoti, a leading expert in transdisciplinary water research in Nigeria, warns:
“It’s not just about providing water; it’s about keeping it running by making sustainable water crisis solutions. When short-term projects lack sustainability planning, they turn from solutions into problems, leaving communities even worse off than before”
A Call to Action
To truly achieve SDG 6.1, we must end aid overlap and invest in sustainable water solutions that can last for decades to come. This is not just about money; it is about efficiency, accountability, and real impact. Governments, donors, and NGOs like Fairaction must unite under a coordinated strategy, prioritizing long-term success over short-lived political gains.
If we do not change the way we implement water projects, the cycle of failure will persist, and millions will remain without access to clean water. The time to act is now.
For data-driven solutions that ensure every drop counts, explore the Target 6.1 Map and demand accountability from aid providers. Because when aid is mismanaged, it is the communities that pay the ultimate price. Help a community in need of clean and safe drinking water by sponsoring a sustainable water project.