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Urban‐rural water access inequalities in Malawi: implications for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals

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  • Ellis A. Adams
  • Sarah L. Smiley

Abstract

Urban‐rural inequalities in water access constitute one of the major obstacles to achieving universal water coverage. In Sub‐Saharan Africa, these inequalities have persisted for decades. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to achieve universal access to safely managed water, which requires that an improved source be located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination. This paper draws on empirical evidence from household surveys in peri‐urban and rural Malawi to examine urban‐rural differences in access to safely managed water. The paper highlights issues with the SDGs’ definition and monitoring indicators and outlines lessons for improving water access given existing inequalities between urban and rural areas. It concludes by arguing that a one‐size‐fits‐all approach to governance, monitoring, and planning cannot eliminate inequalities in water access, especially between urban and rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellis A. Adams & Sarah L. Smiley, 2018. "Urban‐rural water access inequalities in Malawi: implications for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(4), pages 217-226, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:42:y:2018:i:4:p:217-226
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12150
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah L. Smiley, 2017. "Quality matters: incorporating water quality into water access monitoring in rural Malawi," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(5), pages 585-598, July.
    2. Cullis, J. & van Koppen, Barbara, 2007. "Applying the Gini Coefficient to measure inequality of water use in the Olifants River water management area, South Africa," IWMI Research Reports H040313, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Ellis Adams & Godfred Boateng & Jonathan Amoyaw, 2016. "Socioeconomic and Demographic Predictors of Potable Water and Sanitation Access in Ghana," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 673-687, March.
    4. Sarah L. Smiley, 2016. "Water Availability and Reliability in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(9), pages 1320-1334, September.
    5. Rochelle Holm & Wales Singini & Simeon Gwayi, 2016. "Comparative evaluation of the cost of water in northern Malawi: from rural water wells to science education," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(47), pages 4573-4583, October.
    6. Alejandro Jiménez & Dawda Jawara & Hélène LeDeunff & Kelly A. Naylor & Cecilia Scharp, 2017. "Sustainability in Practice: Experiences from Rural Water and Sanitation Services in West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Crow, Ben D & McPike, Jamie, 2009. "How the Drudgery of Getting Water Shapes Women's Lives in Low-income Urban Communities," Center for Global, International and Regional Studies, Working Paper Series qt9jk1s9g4, Center for Global, International and Regional Studies, UC Santa Cruz.
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    Cited by:

    1. Crecentia Pamidzai Gandidzanwa & Muchaiteyi Togo, 2022. "Adaptive Responses to Water, Energy, and Food Challenges and Implications on the Environment: An Exploratory Study of Harare," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Erica W. Ho & Sophia Strohmeier-Breuning & Madeleine Rossanese & Dana Charron & David Pennise & Jay P. Graham, 2021. "Diverse Health, Gender and Economic Impacts from Domestic Transport of Water and Solid Fuel: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, October.
    3. Maurizio Tiepolo & Vieri Tarchiani & Alessandro Pezzoli, 2021. "Risk-Informed Sustainable Development in the Rural Tropics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-4, April.

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