A literature review of the twinning approach in supporting developmental water services by water services institutions (WSIs) and water services authorities (WSAs) in South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review international literature and to contextualise it to South Africa's water services institutions. On the basis of the literature evidence, the following questions will be discussed: • How is "twinning" to be conceptualised and operationalised • What are the expected outputs and outcomes of implementation of the twinning approach • How to draw the lessons from international literature for implementing a twinning approach in South Africa's water services institutions and exploit the benefits thereof While it is often not feasible to measure success of an approach in a scientific fashion, this paper shows that this less- researched approach can improve integrated strategic objectives of developmental water services and co-operative governance in South African spheres of government in general and water services institutions in particular. Inductively, it is recommended that the hands-on support on developmental water services in South Africa provides an opportunity to explore and exploit the twinning approach benefits and outcomes thereof. Such benefits and outcomes include, inter alia, addressing WSAs and WSIs capacity constraints for implementation of developmental water services reforms as per national targets described in the Water Services Strategic Framework (2003) and other pieces of legislation pursuant to post-Apartheid local government developmental agenda (LGDA).