Social networks and other forgotten components of the WaSH enabling environment in Fiji

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Love, Mark
Beal, C
Pene, S
Rarokolutu, Rt T
Whippy, A
Taivoce, S
Shrestha, S
Souter, RT
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2023
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Abstract

Pacific Island countries have among the lowest access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation services in the world. Due to geography, climate, the high frequency, and severity of disasters, transportation difficulties and resource constraints, government and private sector support to rural populations are limited and likely to remain so. However, the unique demographic characteristics of the region see considerable support flowing to rural areas from village kin in urban centres and overseas, hinged on strong socio-cultural norms of reciprocity, self-help, and obligation. Focusing on Fiji, this paper examines how select social networks are being used to support improved rural water and sanitation outcomes. Results demonstrate that kinship-orientated urban–rural linkages, select customary norms, relations and practices, common interest associations (such as village development committees), and select social media groups, all constitute critical components of the WaSH enabling environment in Fiji. Given the unique character of the Pacific Islands region, leveraging existing social networks to support improved rural water and sanitation outcomes may constitute a fruitful community water management ‘plus’ strategy for both governments and non-government organisations seeking to strengthen rural water and sanitation service outcomes.

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Water Policy

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25

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1

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© 2023 The Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY 4.0), which permits copying, adaptation and redistribution, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Applied economics

Policy and administration

Science & Technology

Physical Sciences

Water Resources

Adaptive capacity

Social networks

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Love, M; Beal, C; Pene, S; Rarokolutu, RT; Whippy, A; Taivoce, S; Shrestha, S; Souter, RT, Social networks and other forgotten components of the WaSH enabling environment in Fiji, Water Policy, 2023, 25 (1), pp. 38-58

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