ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Most of the current research in relation to the arsenic issue is directed to the technical aspects of the problem. Very few have seriously looked into the development of the organizational and institutional structures that are essential in the successful implementation of any solution. Because the underlying processes in setting up these structures tend to have large time constants there is an inevitable tension between the need to solve the immediate problem and the sustainability of their supporting organizational and institutional institutions on the longer term. Contrary to social changes, pure technical developments and installations can be done relatively quickly. Reasons for the lengthy character of the social process are found at various levels. Within the rural system there are direct social, institutional and economic limitations that make it difficult for the local communities to contribute in solving their own problems. But also in a broader context there are influences fromoutside the system, which further restrict the autonomy of local communities in their search for endogenous solutions. In face of the problems caused by the arsenic contamination the questions are about the consequences of these constraints and how they influence the setup of new local drinking water supply systems. In this paper we present an implementation scheme based on the different time-constants of its technical and social sub-processes. These processes are linked by using field implementation activities and scientific work as so-called ‘triggers.’ For example a water-testing program can be used to spark off the participatory dialogue in the villages. In the same way geological data acquisition, the construction of a social map, a risk analysis, or other research input can be used as triggers. At the other hand, a short-term solution for the immediate problem might create room for further research on long-term solutions and the use of endogenous knowledge and information from the local people is an essential ‘trigger’ for this. The approach presented here incorporates attention to internal as well as external factors, as both will have their impact on any future solution.
36.1 INTRODUCTION
