Catching up with Mithra Vasudevan as she reflects on her journey with Athena and her work on the groundbreaking EquiServe tool. Here's what she had to say:
Mithra (M): I started with Athena as an independent consultant in 2019. I came from a background in water infrastructure finance and public-private partnerships. My role has evolved from building the initial framework for what we now call EquiServe to developing and deploying the tool across various countries.
M: Engaging with clients to understand their needs and make their lives easier has been a significant challenge. We're not just providing a tool; we're helping them transition to data-based decision-making. Given the sector’s maturity, it's a discovery process for both the utilities and us.
M: One of our biggest achievements was our work on a multilateral investment review in Kenya. Even though we came in after the plans were almost finalised, we were able to demonstrate how the proposed investments weren't moving the needle on inclusive sanitation. Using EquiServe, we showed how investments were concentrated in one area and with a traditional high-cost solution but not serving equity. This led to changes to look inclusively in the project by the donor and shaped our approach to technical assistance for investments.
M: The importance of strong communication can't be overstated. We need to clearly explain what solutions we can provide and how they can be tailored to each client's needs. It's crucial to show utilities how our tool can make their sanitation planning process easier and more effective.
Another key takeaway is the challenge of data availability. Often, the required data is not readily available. But this process helps utilities understand what data ecosystem they need for decision-making and who should be accountable for providing this data.
M: Working on EquiServe has been a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. As the sector matures, we're constantly refining our approach to better serve the needs of utilities and regulators in the WaSH sector. I believe EquiServe has the potential to significantly improve inclusive sanitation planning and shape investment decisions across the globe.
