RiPPLE

Introduction

Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region (RiPPLE) is a five-year action research programme established with the purpose of advancing evidence based learning on water supply and sanitation (WSS) financing, delivery and sustainability to improve equity of access for the poor in Ethiopia and the Nile region.

Funded by UK’s Department of International Development (DFID), the consortium partners in RiPPLE are the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) (lead), UK, WaterAid Ethiopia (WAE), International Water and Sanitation Center (IRC), the Netherlands, College of Development Studies (CDS) (formerly IDR) of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS), Ethiopia. In addition it has regional, national and international net work partners it works with.

Core objectives

• Create research structures and processes that enable effective collaboration across all partner institutions and key stakeholders
• Establish a set of research programme activities that lead to strengthened sector  financing approaches and the delivery of WSS services that maximise opportunities for pro-poor growth
• Build long-term approaches to training and capacity building that reinforce research capacity development in Ethiopia and the Nile region

Operational Areas

RiPPLE works primarily in three regions of Ethiopia and two woredas in each region:
Benishangul – Gumuz region: Menge and Kurmuk woredas
Oromia region (focusing east Hararge zone): Babile and Goro-Gutu woredas
Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region: Alaba special woreda and Mirab Abaya

Phase 1

RiPPLE themes – Finance, Growth, and Governance and Planning with sanitation and mapping as cross-cutting components – are focus areas used to identify issues that may hinder achievement of the UAP. These include issues of technical and social sustainability; weak budget processes and non-use of available funding; and poor coordination and communication within the sector.  These issues resonate within government as well as between government, donors and implementing agencies. At the same time a notable lack of accountability – particularly downward – was identified.

Phase 2

RiPPLE Case Study research established the basis for Long-term Action Research Studies (LARS) through developing research relationships with Learning and Practice Alliances (LPA) in three focus regions.  Lately, this has included extending LPA development down to woreda level, and up to a National-level LPA and outwards across the Nile region.

“Access” and “Growth” were chosen as the LARS focus areas.  The selection came out of findings of case studies undertaken (for a full listing see www.rippleethiopia.org), and developed further through a series of meetings, including, Delft research advisory group (RAG) meeting in April 2008, discussions with core LPA members of the region and woreda in BG, Oromia and SNNP regions in June-July 2008, and finally during the London LARS leaders and ODI meeting in July 2008.

Parallel to its research activities RiPPLE also works on communication and capacity building.