Solidarités International has been implementing a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
programme in selected informal settlements and villages in Ar-Raqqa subdistrict, aiming to develop a
sustainable approach for delivering safe water to internally displaced persons (IDPs) to foster
resilience and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid.
Due to geographic constraints, housing, land, and property issues, and the temporary nature of some
settlements, water trucking remains the only feasible solution in certain areas.
To enhance sustainable access to water after funds for humanitarian support stops, SI has explored
transitioning to a market-based approach for water trucking, which provides income-generating
opportunities for local truck owners while ensuring vulnerable households receive affordable water. As
part of this intervention, SI has:
n financially supported truck owners to encourage IDPs to re-engage with chargeable water
delivery;
n provided truck owners with training and materials for water chlorination before sale; and,
n conducted regular water quality monitoring including free residual chlorine (FRC) and E. coli
tests, at both truck and household levels.
SI plans to gradually reduce financial support for truck owners, aiming for a full phase-out.
In this context, ITAR was mobilised to design an exit strategy for Solidarités International by exploring:
n the economic model of truck drivers’ businesses, as well as conditions necessary for the
delivery of quality water;
n households decision-making processes and behavioural drivers when purchasing from
different water sources and arbitrating between expenses.
The team followed a comparative approach between seven informal settlements.
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