In developing countries, a higher proportion of the rural communities depend on unprotected as well as un reliable water sources. The sources are amenable to water borne, and water related diseases. Despite the great financing and provision efforts by the Government of Malawi and development partners,many of the handpumps are abandoned within a few months or years of installation because they lack effective maintenance and ownership.This has resulted into a backlog of extremely huge proportion of handpumps that are non-operational in rural water supply.There is now greater recognition of the need to take a more comprehensive approach to such projects, emphasizing not only on the design and construction of works but also the post construction activities including more effective and sound management and operational practices. The current policy approach has been to standardize the Afridev handpump and incorporate community based management aspect in rural water supply projects as a way of enhancing ownership and sustainability. Sustained effort and investment coupled with better policies are still required to counter the declining trend if ever MDG goal 7 is to be attained by 2015.

Oliver Phiri obtained his Master¿s Degree in Integrated Water Resources Management in 2006. He has worked with Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development in Malawi. Later he joined UN-AU hybrid peace keeping mission in Darfur, Sudan since April 2008. He is an accomplished hydrogeologist and a member of 5 different International Working Groups.