The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice

The access to water services is deficient in Mozambique, with only a little more than half of the population having access to this service. Investments have been made on the one hand in terms of construction and rehabilitation of new water sources and supply systems, and on the other hand in terms of elaboration of a legal and institutional framework that "favors" greater dynamism in the sector. In this paper, we seek to analyze the framework of policies and strategies institutionally designed to ensure sustainable access to water services in Mozambique. That is, to analyze the process of implementation of water policies in Mozambique, seeking to understand the relationship between theory and practice. This paper is part of a qualitative study based on phenomenological principles. Field work was carried out in Gaza province, Mozambique, alongside document analysis of the main policies and strategies of the water sector in Mozambique, and interviews with key informants in the sector. The study revealed that in theory, the availability of a legal framework and the existence of institutions at various levels may indicate that the foundations for sustainable access to water services are in place. However, the challenge lies in its operationalization. District governments have a weak grasp of the legal framework, and insufficient technical and financial capacities for its operationalization.