Innovation during COVID-19 Pandemic: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Informal Settlements

Abstract

This paper explores informal settlements’ innovations in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Water, sanitation, and hygiene are important aspects that can reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, the water and sanitation conditions in densely populated informal settlements tend to be sub-standard, and residents must often rely on shared facilities. Previous research has generally explored innovation on a macro scale, whereas this research is local. This paper explores four elements of innovation: form, actor, conflict, and regulation, to study social innovations in six urban villages in Bandung City, Indonesia. This study found that innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic have generally been in the form of arrangements for using shared facilities and providing handwashing facilities. A mix of actors comprised the community, village/sub-district officers, the COVID-19 task force, and other community organizations, highlighting the importance of combining a bottom-up and top-down approach to social innovations. However, a lack of rules and the institutionalization of innovations, perceived getting better conditions, scheduling, and funding prevented the long-term success of the innovations. The paper develops policy recommendations for the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector based on these findings.