 The main reason for the emergence of the CDD approach was the failure of the top down, gift given approaches whereby projects were inappropriate, unaffordable, not accepted by the community and therefore unsustainable. Addressing Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) in ECA, especially in the NIS countries, should be high among the Bank's priorities inasmuch as there is great need, has potential to make a real difference in poverty alleviation, and the Bank has a comparative advantage in the sector. The Bank's role is unique -- no other assistance agency is prepared to tackle the fundamentals.
Thus, Bank assistance should be comprehensive and create a country-wide policy and institutional environment that can deliver CDD RWSS. All these working in the sector should work together on an assistance strategy, agree on approaches that lead to success and work out how to bring together resources and instruments under which the Bank speaks with one voice and creates synergies in its interventions. This would lead towards an integrated approach whereby water issues are addressed as a basic ingredient for poverty alleviation in rural communities including its impact on health.
Challenges
Bank's role should be to assist countries in the creation of an enabling environment for CDD in RWSS to confront the present crisis on a country level. This requires working with governments, communities and stakeholders on a number of areas fundamental to success:
1. Policy reform should lead governments to adopt CDD concepts and principles and enacted as policies to be followed by all, including donors.
2. Introduction and dissemination of best practice policies and principles.
3. Creation of new institutional framework: from operation to facilitation.
4. Development of private sector capacity to offer services to communities.
5. Donor coordination to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
Opportunities
There is a need in the region for alternative ways to the state's previous complete control of RWSS. While CDD provides an alternative approach, it has to be recognized that CDD can be successful only if fundamental criteria are fulfilled. Thus, any project intervention/investment should be:
1. Appropriate – meet community needs.
2. Efficient – least cost solution.
3. Affordable – community can pay for it: part of investments and all of the operational costs.
4. Demand driven – community choice from affordable and appropriate alternatives.
5. Sustainable – systems continue to work under community management that requires (a) presence of adequate institutional capacity, (b) financial viability so that internal generation of funds covers for O&M, and (c) sustaining environment.
Lessons learned
- Changing 70 years of communist thinking is very difficult.
- Repetitive explanation of principles and building up supportive constituency is essential.
- Listening and talking to all stakeholders is crucial.
- Coordinate work with other donors; create alliances for reform.
- Test approaches in the field.
- Prepare and agree on clear guidelines, processes and procedures.
- Rely as much as possible on local capacity, but recognize limits.
- Be true to principles, patient and tough and never cease to be amazed.
 Presentation on Rural Water Supply/Sanitation and Community Driven Development (96k ppt)
Key Design Principles for Community Water and Sanitation Services (20k pdf)
Notes from the BBL (8k pdf)
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