Barriers to the sustainability of rural water schemes in Sub-Saharan African countries: a systematic review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite efforts to improve water access, many systems fail to remain operational, hindering progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. Addressing this issue is crucial for creating strategies to enhance the reliability and longevity of rural water systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this review was to systematically review and synthesize evidence on the barriers to the sustainability of rural water schemes in Sub-Saharan Africa. This systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, synthesized evidence from studies published between 2000 and 2023 on barriers to rural water sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. A structured search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted, with inclusion criteria informed by the SPIDER framework. Studies were assessed using mixed-method appraisal, and thematic analysis was performed with ATLAS.ti. The review included studies from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. Key barriers identified were institutional weaknesses, social issues such as low community ownership, environmental factors like contamination and climate change, and technological barriers like inadequate maintenance capabilities. Sustainable rural water systems in Sub-Saharan Africa face challenges across financial, technical, institutional, social, environmental, and technological domains. Addressing these barriers with a holistic approach is necessary for long-term sustainability.