Experimenting with innovative research methods was one aim of a multi-country study comparing technological choice in community water supply in Ethiopia and Sudan. The study found that long-term sustainability is often not considered adequately when schemes are planned, but may be improved through tailor-made community-government management systems and by simultaneously implementing natural resource management programmes. The logistical challenges of this research were significant, but were outweighed by the rewards in terms of strengthening regional alliances and exchanging knowledge.