Digital innovations and water services in global South cities: a systematic literature review

Godfred Amankwaa (Corresponding), Richard Heeks, Alison L Browne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

122 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Increasing implementation of digital water innovations in cities of the Global South has been accompanied by a growth in research on this topic. This paper presents a first systematic literature review of this domain, analysing a total of 43 papers using a range of thematic categorisations. Overall profiling finds literature to be recent, limited in its engagement with theorisation or methodology, and with some disciplinary, geographic and method gaps. Research has been conservative with regards to the technologies covered, with a provider-centric, rather than a user- or government-centric leaning. Impact findings are skewed towards benefits more than disbenefits, and towards impacts on providers and users rather than towards the broader socio-environmental impacts. The paper ends by laying out a future research agenda that particularly emphasises the value of more contextualised sociotechnical and sociopolitical research.
Original languageEnglish
JournalWater Alternatives
Volume14
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Global Development Institute

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Digital innovations and water services in global South cities: a systematic literature review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this