What is the
Target 6.1 Map?
The Target 6.1 Map is a centralized and transparent data management system that revolutionizes how we tackle water poverty. It monitors the entire lifecycle of water projects in communities that need them most. Using this tool, we can identify where the over 700 million individuals in developing countries without access to clean water live, understand their challenges, and develop sustainable solutions tailored to each community’s unique needs.
Currently, our focus is on Nigeria. With this tool, we aim to map the locations of the 44 million Nigerians suffering from extreme water poverty, enabling us to deliver personalized solutions that address their specific needs. Our ultimate goal is to scale these solutions to other regions with similar socio-economic challenges, advancing the global mission of achieving sustainable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
How the Target 6.1 Map Works
The Target 6.1 Map operates across four distinct phases, ensuring effective planning, seamless data update, and long-term functionality of water projects:
1. Mapping and Identifying Communities in Need
The first phase focuses on pinpointing where people suffering from extreme water poverty live. For instance, over 44 million Nigerians are estimated to lack access to clean drinking water, yet their exact locations remain unknown. How can we solve a problem if we don’t know where the affected people live? The Target 6.1 Map addresses this challenge by identifying and mapping these communities, laying the foundation for targeted interventions.
2. Keeping Data Up to Date
Once a location is mapped, the data is continuously updated through simple, reliable methods, such as correspondence with community caretakers. This ensures we maintain a centralized, up-to-date source of information. The platform empowers governments, NGOs, and other water agencies to collaborate effectively, promoting a coordinated and unified approach to solving water poverty.
3. Pre-Construction Planning
Using accurate data from mapped communities, the Target 6.1 Map assesses location viability for water infrastructure projects. This process is enhanced by our Predictive Iterative Sustainability Model (PISM), which predicts a project’s sustainability before implementation. By integrating PISM, we ensure water projects are strategically planned for maximum impact and long-term success. (Download the PISM publication here: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2024.193)
4. Project Monitoring and Sustainability
After the infrastructure is implemented, the Target 6.1 Map integrates seamlessly with water systems—whether analog or smart—enabling the collection and analysis of essential sustainability metrics. These metrics include revenue water, water credit, non-revenue water, operational and maintenance expenses, beneficiary analysis, and more.
For analog systems, data can be collected manually and fed into the map for centralized tracking and analysis.
For smart systems, the Target 6.1 Map integrates IoT technology, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis of infrastructure performance.
This dual functionality ensures that all types of water infrastructure, regardless of technological level, can be effectively monitored and maintained. By tracking metrics across various systems, the Target 6.1 Map ensures water systems remain operational throughout their designated lifecycle, preventing failures and proactively addressing issues. Additionally, the map promotes transparency and accountability by maintaining a centralized, verifiable record of all projects. This eliminates ghost projects, prevents overlapping aid efforts, and ensures that resources are used efficiently.
The result is a reliable, data-driven system that supports sustainable and impactful water solutions, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions and achieve long-term success.
Key Features of the Target 6.1 Map
1. Comprehensive Project Management
Tracks water projects from inception to completion, ensuring every detail is accounted for.
2. Centralized Mapping System
Provides a live overview of water infrastructure functionality, enhancing planning and responsiveness.
3. Aid Coordination
Prevents overlapping efforts by NGOs and governments, ensuring equitable resource distribution.
4. Interagency Collaboration Platform
Facilitates seamless cooperation among NGOs, governments, and stakeholders for maximum efficiency.
5. Transparency and Accountability
Public access to project data ensures that all projects are real, verifiable, and sustainable.
6. Priority and Beneficiary Analysis
Identifies communities most in need, ensuring resources are directed to where they are most impactful.
7. Location Viability Rating
Evaluates and ranks project sites for long-term success and sustainability.
8. Cost Analysis
Provides detailed cost assessments for planning and budgeting.
9. Enables Operation and Maintenance Management
Supports the operation, maintenance and repair of new and existing water projects
10. Public Engagement Tools
Keeps communities informed and engaged throughout the project lifecycle.
11. Post-Construction Metrics
Tracks long-term sustainability through detailed reporting on project outcomes. (Download a Sample Report)
12. Real-Time Monitoring
Tracks infrastructure functionality in real-time, enabling immediate responses to issues.
13. Operational Cost Reduction
Reduces costs by optimizing resource allocation and improving efficiency.
14. Compliance Monitoring
The system can monitor and ensure compliance with regulatory standards and guidelines, which is especially crucial for government agencies responsible for enforcing infrastructure regulations and sustainability practices.
1. Comprehensive Project Management
Tracks water projects from inception to completion, ensuring every detail is accounted for.
2. Centralized Mapping System
Provides a live overview of water infrastructure functionality, enhancing planning and responsiveness.
3. Aid Coordination
Prevents overlapping efforts by NGOs and governments, ensuring equitable resource distribution.
4. Interagency Collaboration Platform
Facilitates seamless cooperation among NGOs, governments, and stakeholders for maximum efficiency.
5. Transparency and Accountability
Public access to project data ensures that all projects are real, verifiable, and sustainable.
6. Priority and Beneficiary Analysis
Identifies communities most in need, ensuring resources are directed to where they are most impactful.
7. Location Viability Rating
Evaluates and ranks project sites for long-term success and sustainability.
8. Cost Analysis
Provides detailed cost assessments for planning and budgeting.
9. Enables Operation and Maintenance Management
Supports the operation, maintenance and repair of new and existing water projects
10. Public Engagement Tools
Keeps communities informed and engaged throughout the project lifecycle.
11. Post-Construction Metrics
Tracks long-term sustainability through detailed reporting on project outcomes. (Download a Sample Report)
12. Real-Time Monitoring
Tracks infrastructure functionality in real-time, enabling immediate responses to issues.
13. Operational Cost Reduction
Reduces costs by optimizing resource allocation and improving efficiency.
14. Compliance Monitoring
The system can monitor and ensure compliance with regulatory standards and guidelines, which is especially crucial for government agencies responsible for enforcing infrastructure regulations and sustainability practices.
The Impact of the Target 6.1 Map
The Target 6.1 Map bridges critical gaps in water project planning and implementation, ensuring resources are directed to the right places with the right solutions. By addressing challenges such as overlapping aid efforts, ghost projects, poor planning, and inadequate monitoring, this tool transforms how water poverty and infrastructure failures are tackled in developing countries.
More than just a mapping tool, it serves as the backbone of our sustainability framework, ensuring every project is impactful and lasting. Learn more about our comprehensive sustainability approach:
https://fairaction.ngo/about/how-we-work
Driving Change Together
By combining data, transparency, and collaboration, the Target 6.1 Map ensures that every dollar invested in water projects has a measurable and lasting impact. Through effective planning, real-time monitoring, and data-informed decisions, this tool is pivotal in achieving sustainable access to clean water for all.
We have mapped some Nigerian communities as a pilot to test the capacity of the Target 6.1 Map to identify communities in need. Explore the Mapped Communities at: https://target6.1map.management/