Ilmari Saarilehto

Anatomy of an Aid Encounter: Actors and Power in the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Support Programme in Nepal Ilmari Saarilehto

This book examines the actors' power relations in the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Support Programme (RWSSSP) in Nepal, often cited among the most prominent successes of Finnish development aid. I study this case through analysing actors' conceptions, roles and motivations as well as conflicts related to the programme. This work delves into the roles and power relations of different actors, local, national and international, in the programme. It seeks to answer questions like: Was there donor domination or were the consultants dictating the practices and the representation of the programme? What about the roles of local people and local government, often regarded less powerful but much promoted in the development debate and stated principles during the last few decades? This work also analyses the different actors? conceptions of development and of success of a development programme. This analysis should help development researchers and professionals to better understand the roles and power relations in aid and to improve their conceptions and practices. The books should also be of interest to anyone concerned with development issues and Nepal.