Abstract
In refugee camps, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services are essential for health and well-being, yet they face sustainability challenges in post-emergency contexts. Despite considerable research on WASH services in urban and rural areas, a gap exists in addressing sustainability within refugee camps. This study fills that gap by proposing a framework for evaluating WASH system sustainability in such settings. Through a convergent mixed methods research design, sustainability dimensions, metrics, and indicators were first identified via a literature review. These were then validated through expert interviews. The study applies a five-dimensional FIETS (financial, institutional, environmental, technical, and social) framework to assess WASH sustainability. Findings reveal that financial sustainability is the most critical dimension, followed by institutional, technical, social, and environmental factors. The research also identifies key challenges such as limited funding, political barriers, and limited water resource availability. It underscores the importance of coordinated efforts among stakeholders to overcome these obstacles and achieve long-term sustainability. This framework provides a structured approach for practitioners and policymakers to assess and improve WASH services in refugee camps, contributing to broader discourse on sustainable development and water resource management.
Published Version
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