Katie Pascavis

Reconciling household water insecurity metrics: Insights from Nepal

Traditional water insecurity metrics often fail to account for lived experiences with water insecurity. This study explores two research questions around improving water insecurity metrics: 1. How can the HWISE (Household Water Insecurity Experiences) scale fill gaps in measuring water insecurity? and 2. What are the stakeholder needs and priorities for visualizing experiential water insecurity metrics? The mixed-methods approach included quantitative statistical testing for a case study in Nepal and qualitative interviews to verify HWISE values and develop a participatory dashboard. Comparing results using both HWISE and the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Drinking Water ladder revealed that the HWISE scale provided a more nuanced picture of variation in water security between households, allowing stakeholders to identify high-risk groups. For instance, household characteristics associated with higher water insecurity were identified, including higher water collection times, unimproved drinking water sources, and large household size. The case study analysis established the need for quality control checks during data collection and more comprehensive, accessible tools for analyzing HWISE results. The first HWISE dashboard was created following participatory design principles and guidance from key stakeholders. The dashboard allows users to interact with and analyze HWISE data. It also identifies vulnerable groups and provides structure for filtering data. Using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, key stakeholder needs for visualizing HWISE data were established, and the dashboard was evaluated and critiqued. Future work will implement improvements to the participatory dashboard to better meet stakeholder needs.