Understanding the non-institutionalization of a socio-technical innovation: the case of multiple-use water services (MUS) in Nepal. Issue 4 (19th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clement, Floriane; Pradhan, Prachanda; Van Koppen, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Water international. Volume 44:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 408
• Page End: 426
• Publication Date: 2019-05-19
• Subjects: Multiple-use water services -- institutional change -- discourses -- collective action -- coalitions -- socio-technical innovation -- Nepal; Water -- Periodicals; Water-supply -- Periodicals; 333.9105
• DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2019.1600336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0250-8060

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Multiple-use water services (MUS) have been promoted and piloted globally for two decades as a socio-technical innovation. Yet the MUS approach has hardly extended beyond donor-funded projects to public policies. We use a collective action framework to analyze the non-institutionalization of MUS in Nepal. We find that MUS has much cognitive legitimacy, but discourse fragmentation has reduced its socio-political legitimacy. Yet the latter is essential to overcome the institutional challenges of a fragmented public water sector and to mainstream MUS into policy debate.