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Water For People India Trust was established in 2008 in alignment with the global vision and mission to provide improved access to water and sanitation in rural areas and urban. The organisation aims to provide universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and improved hygiene practices, sustained by local institutions, government, and private sector.
Water for People India Trust is operational in the state of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Assam and Odisha, and reached 2.6 million people through community drinking water, WASH in public institutions, and market-led approaches to sanitation. Over the past decade, Water For People India Trust has emerged as a niche organization with focused water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs that cater to the most vulnerable and marginalized communities, inclusive of public institutions such as Anganwadi centers, schools, and health centres. Water For People India Trust is a direct implementation agency supported by civil societies, local NGO partners, and entrepreneurs.
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Position Title: Agency/Consultant.
Organization: Water For People India Trust.
Location of the Study: Five districts in Maharashtra – one each from Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, Vidarbha, North Maharashtra, and Konkan regions
Nature of contract: Short term consultancy
Over the past decade, Maharashtra’s rural drinking water sector has undergone a significant transformation, culminating in the achievement of 90.33% Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). While this milestone reflects substantial progress in infrastructure delivery, it has also shifted focus toward systemic challenges related to water source sustainability, governance arrangements, water quality assurance, and long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) of village water supply systems.
Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) play a central role in planning, implementing, operating, and sustaining these systems. However, their capacities, roles, and effectiveness vary across regions due to differences in hydrogeological conditions, institutional support, community engagement, and administrative practices. Maharashtra’s diverse agro-climatic zones further influence how water resources are managed, governed, and sustained at the local level.
As rural water supply systems transition from infrastructure creation to long-term service delivery, questions of institutional capacity, accountability, financial sustainability, and community ownership have become increasingly central. The post-FHTC phase demands stronger local governance arrangements to ensure that water sources remain sustainable, systems are properly operated and maintained, and water quality is consistently monitored and addressed. Given this context, Water For People India Trust proposes to undertake a multi-district research study to generate comparative, evidence-based insights on water management and governance across different regions of Maharashtra.
Task: Research Study on Water Management and Governance
The selected agency/consultant will be responsible for the end-to-end design and execution of a rigorous research study on water management and governance across five districts in Maharashtra. This includes the development of a high-quality research methodology, clearly articulated research questions, an appropriate mixed-methods design, and statistically and analytically sound sampling strategies, including justification of sample size calculations for all quantitative components. The study will examine governance and management arrangements related to village water supply systems, including the functioning and capacities of VWSCs, the role of PRIs in planning and oversight, mechanisms for source sustainability, institutional arrangements for operation and maintenance, and governance processes supporting drinking water quality assurance.
The study will adopt a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative assessments, qualitative enquiry, and desk-based review of existing literature, policies, guidelines, and programme documentation. Primary data collection will include structured institutional assessments, surveys (where relevant), key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations across the selected districts. The agency will be responsible for ensuring methodological robustness, ethical standards, analytical coherence, and high-quality synthesis of findings into actionable insights and recommendations that inform future programming, capacity-building strategies, and policy frameworks for sustainable and resilient rural water management in Maharashtra.
Audience:
Internal team: Water For People India Trust program, research, and leadership teams
External audience: Government of Maharashtra (state, district, and block levels), development partners, sector practitioners, and research institutions.
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The agency will be responsible for the following activities:
1. Research Design and Methodology Development: Develop a comprehensive research methodology aligned with the study objectives, including:
- Clearly defined research questions and analytical framework
- Mixed-methods research design and rationale
- Sampling framework for all study components
- Sample size calculations and justification for quantitative elements
- Criteria for selection of districts, villages, institutions, and respondents
- Clearly articulate assumptions, limitations, and mitigation measures.
2. Desk Review: Conduct a structured review of relevant policies, guidelines, program documents, and existing literature related to:
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
- VWSCs and PRIs
- Rural water governance and O&M
- Water quality monitoring and assurance frameworks in Maharashtra
3. Tool Development and Piloting: Design, pilot, and finalise quantitative and qualitative research tools aligned with the analytical framework, including tools to assess:
- VWSC capacities and functioning
- PRI roles in governance and source sustainability
- O&M and financial management practices
- Water quality monitoring, reporting, and response mechanisms
- Community engagement and accountability processes
4. Field Data Collection: Conduct fieldwork in five selected districts across Maharashtra and undertake:
- Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with VWSC members, PRI representatives, line department officials, and technical agencies
- Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with community members and water users
- Structured institutional assessments and field observations
5. Data Analysis and Synthesis
- Clean, code, and analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
- Identify patterns, gaps, regional variations, challenges, and good practices.
- Compare governance and management approaches across regions.
6. Reporting and Knowledge Products
- Prepare a comprehensive research report presenting findings, analysis, and recommendations.
- Develop high-quality knowledge products such as:
- Case studies
- Summary notes or briefs
- A presentationdeck for dissemination
7. Ethical Standards
- Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and respectful engagement with all study participants.
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