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

Alves Nhaurire; Rehana Capurchande

doi:doi:10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

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

Alves Nhaurire^*

, Rehana Capurchande

Published in Science, Technology & Public Policy (Volume 9, Issue 1)

Received: 18 February 2025 Accepted: 6 March 2025 Published: 21 March 2025

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Abstract

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.

Published in	Science, Technology & Public Policy (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12
Page(s)	14-26
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sustainability, Access to Water, Policies, Mozambique

References

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APA Style

Nhaurire, A., Capurchande, R. (2025). The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice. Science, Technology & Public Policy, 9(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

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ACS Style

Nhaurire, A.; Capurchande, R. The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice. Sci. Technol. Public Policy 2025, 9(1), 14-26. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

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AMA Style

Nhaurire A, Capurchande R. The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice. Sci Technol Public Policy. 2025;9(1):14-26. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

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@article{10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12,
  author = {Alves Nhaurire and Rehana Capurchande},
  title = {The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice
},
  journal = {Science, Technology & Public Policy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {14-26},
  doi = {10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.stpp.20250901.12},
  abstract = {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.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice

AU  - Alves Nhaurire
AU  - Rehana Capurchande
Y1  - 2025/03/21
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12
T2  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
JF  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - 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.

VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Alves Nhaurire

Department of Sociology, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5121-1155
Rehana Capurchande

Department of Sociology, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9421-2594

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APA Style

Nhaurire, A., Capurchande, R. (2025). The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice. Science, Technology & Public Policy, 9(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

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ACS Style

Nhaurire, A.; Capurchande, R. The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice. Sci. Technol. Public Policy 2025, 9(1), 14-26. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

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AMA Style

Nhaurire A, Capurchande R. The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice. Sci Technol Public Policy. 2025;9(1):14-26. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12,
  author = {Alves Nhaurire and Rehana Capurchande},
  title = {The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice
},
  journal = {Science, Technology & Public Policy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {14-26},
  doi = {10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.stpp.20250901.12},
  abstract = {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.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Sustainability of Water Access Services in Mozambique: From Policy to Practice

AU  - Alves Nhaurire
AU  - Rehana Capurchande
Y1  - 2025/03/21
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12
T2  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
JF  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
JO  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
SP  - 14
EP  - 26
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4621
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250901.12
AB  - 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.

VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download