How to manage crises differently in ASALs without talking about a nexus: What we can learn from the water sector

Research on the provision of water in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of eastern Africa.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
6 February 2026
Document Type:
Briefing
Theme:
Water and Sanitation
First published:
31 December 2025
Authors:
Balfour, N. and Levine, S.

Abstract

Key messages within this policy brief are:

  • predictable crises must be factored into longer-term planning
  • when installing or repairing water supplies, plan for maintenance and surge capacity
  • do not assume maintenance capacity exists elsewhere
  • demand accountability for water source maintenance
  • water illustrates the need to integrate long- and short-term thinking

This work is part of the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises  (SPARC) programme.

Citation

Balfour N and Levine S. ‘How to manage crises differently in ASALs without talking about a nexus: What we can learn from the water sector’ Policy Brief, London, UK: SPARC, 2025

How to manage crises differently in ASALs without talking about a nexus: What we can learn from the water sector

Updates to this page

Published 6 February 2026
Contents