Coordination of WASH actors: the lower, the more efficient

Published on: 04/03/2012

The WASH sector is a pulsating blend of actors. Government ministries and departments, district and sub-county local governments, national and international NGOs, CBOs, private sector companies, and individuals all come together (in different ways ) to address the whole host of issues that surround water, sanitation and hygiene.  While the fruits of that mixture of actors are there for all to see, the sector could do better with a little more coordination.  Variations in mandates, agenda and resources often lead to duplication, spreading thin, ineffectiveness in terms of service delivery and lack of alignment with government policies and guidelines.

Not that the actors are not making any attempts at coordination. At national level, coordination efforts can be seen in the SWAP while at the local government level there are District Water and Sanitation Coordination Committees (DWSCCs) and in some districts, sub county water and sanitation coordination committees. Sector policies and guidelines abound to ensure that there is a proper framework and standards for service delivery. Specifically at district level, the District Implementation Manual (DIM) was issued by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) to provide guidance for sector stakeholders at district local government level.

In Many districts, the DWSCCs are functioning well, and sub county level committees are beginning to thrive, yet the coordination gaps still glare. In the search for more effective coordination mechanisms, WASH actors in Kabarole ventured into sub-county level planning and review meetings. The move was spearheaded by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Although the Kabarole DWSCC exists as a platform for coordination, there is nothing of the sort at sub-county level. Discussion is at a higher level yet the real issues occur at lower levels

“Although the Kabarole DWSCC exists as a platform for coordination, there is nothing of the sort at sub-county level. Discussion is at a higher level yet the real issues occur at lower levels,” Grace Kanweri , CRS Programme Officer says. But CRS wanted to avoid the replication of DWSCCs at sub-county level as that would not be sustainable. What was required was a platform that would give an opportunity for issues to be raised by the people most affected.

CRS also wanted to ride on the back of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) which had successfully mobilised communities, extension workers and political leaders. “We wanted to see how to work through or work with the NAADS programme since we both target the same communities for operation and maintenance,” Kanweri explains.

So it was in November 2011 that CRS, working with the district Community development department started organising these lower level planning and review meetings.  Target participants included sub-county leadership and technical teams, Hand Pump Mechanics (HPMs), Village Health Teams (VHTs), extension workers and ordinary individuals in the communities (water users). The first round of meetings covering all sub-counties in Kabarole was conducted successfully.

Indeed the most outstanding achievement so far is the coordination of the whole range of actors at the sub-county level.  Technical teams are usually powerless, especially with regard to enforcement of bylaws. The joint planning and review meetings will empower them greatly since they enjoy the backing of political leadership and the goodwill of the people.  The other advantage is that these meetings address sub-county specific issues.  The common practice is to base actions on the work plans of agencies and departments represented in coordination and planning meetings, but these lower-level meetings are different. Actions are based on the issues raised there. 

Both district CDOs are optimistic that this approach will indeed improve coordination of key actors and prioritising of issues across all sub-counties. On his part, Mr David Mugisha says, “Non-government actors do a lot of work at sub-county level but are not well coordinated. Many of them have big funders but they are not involving the technical people at the lower level. Instead they go directly to the communities and implement, bypassing the people who are supposed to sustain these projects. So the initiative by CRS is most welcome.”

The district CDO for Kabarole,  Taddeo Balisanga says, “People must learn to report their problems through such meetings. Before taking action at higher level, you can take action locally. It is also an opportunity to know our service providers e.g Hand Pump Mechanics.”

People must learn to report their problems through such meetings. Before taking action at higher level, you can take action locally

Still in its trial stages, the approach of lower level planning and review meetings has already brought several lessons to the fore. It has been noticed that the success of this approach largely depends on the goodwill and support of political leaders.

Some of the key challenges emerging so far are mainly to do with lack of awareness of roles and responsibilities of stakeholders at sub-county level. “During the meetings roles are explained and clarified but many of the stakeholders seem to be taken by surprise, they are not aware,” Ms Kanweri says. Additionally there are some issues that go beyond the capacity of the sub-county and cannot be effectively addressed in these meetings. Also, while the HPMs participate in the meetings, they are not fully empowered especially because of the absence of spare parts.

The few challenges notwithstanding, actors are willing to take this approach forward and to make the meetings a quarterly affair.