First International Rope Pump Policy Workshop

May 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua

Theme of the workshop: International Cooperation for Technology Transfer

The workshop was organised by COSUDE (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), BDM (Bombas de Mecate) and HTN (Network for cost-effective technologies in water supply and sanitation) in partnership with IRC (International Water and Sanitation Centre) and the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) from 14 to 19 May 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua


MANAGUA STATEMENT
18 May 2001

Almost 2 billion people worldwide are without access to safe water. Advances in coverage have masked limitations of project-based approaches that result in unsustainable supply chains for technologies that are often difficult to maintain at the user level.

The First International Rope Pump Policy Workshop was jointly organised by COSUDE, HTN, Technology Transfer Division of Bombas de Mecate S.A., WSP, IRC and RRAS-CA, and held in Managua, Nicaragua, from 14th to 19th May 2001.
This venue was chosen in recognition of the successful dissemination of the rope pump technology in Nicaragua. Representatives of governments, external support agencies, NGOs and private sector enterprises from 22 countries attended the workshop. It offered an opportunity for the participants to familiarise themselves with rope pump technology, to assess the feasibility of its application in their countries, and to consider methodologies for sharing this technology.

The participants felt that the rope pump technology can have a significant potential in many countries, due to its specific features:
- Affordability and accessibility to families and communities
- Ease of use
- User level maintenance and repair
- Potential for local manufacture
- Adaptability
- Probable social acceptance
As a potentially feasible water supply technology option, the rope pump technology warrants initiation of technology transfer processes to explore its viability under the varied conditions in other countries.

Effective technology transfer to establish local production was recognised as being central to launching the rope pump in other countries. This involves sharing of knowledge and experiences that have already been gained in introducing the rope pump.

The Technology Transfer Division of Bombas de Mecate plays a pivotal role in providing support for the technology-sharing process through direct South-South contacts. Structured action should be taken to ensure that this unit can continue to provide equitable technical assistance to all stakeholders.

Additional structured initiatives to support the technology transfer have to include the definition of clear roles and responsibilities for public sector, private sector, external support agencies, non-governmental organisations and the users themselves. Procurement and supply mechanisms need to be changed to enable users to select and to purchase their hand pumps themselves. This will ensure that the rope pump technology is demand-driven and that effective and sustainable supply chains exist.

The participants pledged to work towards the goal of placing the rope pump technology on the international agenda through established networks such as HTN and others, and sharing of experiences among all stakeholders. The introduction, evaluation and promotion of the technology require commitment from international technical assistance and financing agencies.

WORKSHOP CONCLUSIONS

1. Considering on-going problems in rural water supply caused by expensive technologies, which are often difficult to maintain at the community level, and by inadequate supply chains. There was agreement that there is a great demand to increase access to safe water through sustainable, low cost technologies in all the countries represented.

2. The rope pump has the potential to address many of these problems as an effective response to needs of families and communities in many countries for low cost, sustainable water supply.

3. In Nicaragua the rope pump has been demonstrated to reliably pump water from depths of up to 50 metres for families, farms and communities. The workshop participants agreed that the rope pump needs to be demonstrated in other countries so that its performance, benefits and social acceptance can be verified under varying conditions.

4. The rope pump has certain very strong features such as:
- Low cost
- Ease of operation
- It is easy to understand
- Family-based maintenance
- Ease of manufacture

5. The rope pump has considerable potential for local manufacture with low start-up costs. Locally available materials can be used in production in most countries.

6. The process to transfer the technology and establish the local manufacturing capacity requires initiation, or continuation where it has started.

7. Basic standards and specification are required to ensure quality.

8. Local production near the user is a condition for having a successful supply chain of goods and services.

9. Several examples of rope pump technology transfer from Nicaragua to other countries in Central America, Africa, and Asia have been initiated.

10. To achieve the maximum benefits from the technology it is essential to match low cost water sources such as hand dug wells and manually driven bore holes with the low cost pumping devices.

WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS

1. It is important that the rope pump technology is disseminated to explore its viability under varying conditions in other countries. Given its cost benefits and sustainability, funding agencies are called upon to support the technology transfer process.

2. Countries starting the technology transfer process need to establish the feasibility and economic viability of introducing such new technologies before initiating the process.

3. The feasibility appraisal should include comparative evaluation of different pumps. An independent assessment of performance, reliability, maintainability and water quality should be carried out. Results of such studies should be made publicly available through publications and web sites of HTN.

4. The sharing of experiences among all stakeholders in each country is important, focusing on opinions from users. Their participation and support is key to the success of technology transfer.

5. To have an impact on health and living conditions, it is essential to supplement the promotion of hand pump technology with strong elements of hygiene and environmental sanitation education.

6. At the international level the sharing of experiences through networks will facilitate efficient rope pump development and help to avoid pitfalls.

7. A strong element of the technology transfer process should be direct South-South contacts.

8. In technology transfer, the private sector has an important role to play in the development, promotion and provision of goods and services to users.

9. Procurement and supply mechanisms need to be adapted to enable users to select and purchase their handpumps and take over full ownership.

10. The workshop recognises the pivotal role that the Rope Pump Technology Transfer Division in Nicaragua has played, and recommends that it takes steps to ensure its long term capability to provide equitable support for technology sharing.


The Executive Summary

Proceedings First International Rope Pump Policy Workshop