August 2023
USAID Launches a Trial of the Water Quality Assurance Fund in Collaboration with Kericho, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu Counties.
Nairobi, 28 August – In a significant step towards strengthening rural water safety management in Kenya, USAID’s Rural Evidence and Learning for Water (REAL-Water) action research program is collaborating with Kericho, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu county governments to evaluate the Water Quality Assurance Fund: a novel approach to professionalize water quality testing and water safety management in rural Kenya. To launch the Assurance Fund evaluation, county officials, water supply managers, laboratory specialists, and researchers will convene in Naivasha on 28 August. The event, which will be opened by former WASREB CEO, Eng. Robert Gakubia, will facilitate open discussions and coordination of the evaluation activities.
Ensuring that our water is safe and free from harmful contaminants is essential for better public health. However, rural water systems often lack the resources and expertise to monitor water quality effectively. That is where the REAL-Water Water Quality Assurance Fund comes in.
The Assurance Fund allows established laboratories to extend water quality testing services to rural systems on a fee-for-service basis. In cases where the water systems do not pay their testing bills, the laboratory can claim reimbursement from the Assurance Fund.
“We believe that by bringing together committed representatives from all of the stakeholders that strive to ensure the safety of rural water services, we can collectively develop and evaluate innovations like the Water Quality Assurance Fund.The Assurance Fund evaluation serves as a testament to the motivation and creativity of our partners for improving rural health and development in Kenya through safe drinking water provision.”
David Gosney, USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission Director
USAID and REAL-Water anticipate that the outcomes of the launch event will contribute to a rigorous evaluation of the Water Quality Assurance Fund that will provide reliable evidence to guide expansion of the Assurance Fund model.
About REAL-Water
REAL-Water is a five-year action research program dedicated to building the evidence base for global rural water development. REAL-Water is supported through a five-year (2021-2026) Cooperative Agreement between USAID and The Aquaya Institute (Aquaya).
