The WASH Sector in Uganda is awash with case studies of innovations that have transformed communities. Every so often, sector actors gather in different forums and share experiences on what they are each doing and the emancipation arising from their interventions. At sub-county, district and even national level, emphasis is laid on documentation of experiences, sharing and learning from each other... and scaling up good practices. But the critical issue is not so much around the sharing of information as it is around the uptake and the scaling up of those practices.
Published on: 04/07/2011
In the first ever Rwenzori regional Learning Forum in October 2010, actors undertook to scale up good practices in the management of rural water services. Through a participatory critical analysis of each case, participants outlined steps that would be required to take up each practice, summarised here below.
Creation of awareness among key stakeholders: It is important to sensitise everyone who affects or is affected by the innovation. The Water User Committees, the users, the service providers, the district water personnel, the mechanics...to mention but a few. These all need to know about the innovation and how they can capitalise on it to ensure sustainable provision of services. Awareness creation could also ensure stakeholder buy in and ownership of projects.
Capacity building: This should target local beneficiaries, contractors, artisans. Develop specific training tools e.g. simple books, O&M manuals etc; the technical capacity of the artisans should also be strengthened. Where money is involved, the communities must be taught basic book keeping.
Exchange visits: For purposes of experience sharing, community members could pay a learning visit to another community where innovations have worked well and created change. Water board members, water user committees, local leaders could all participate in such visits.
For harmonisation of approaches, create integrated joint planning technical committees. Hold Joint planning and review meetings
Make baseline surveys on the number of Water User Committees (WUCs) and their status. Hold dialogue with these committees to introduce new innovations in water source management.
Carry out advocacy to hold leaders accountable
Where the mechanics associations exist, the DWO should ensure that they engage in repair works.
Integrating, poverty, gender, HIV and environmental issues in WASH
There should be effective local government supervision of the innovations to ensure quality
YY Strategy: Maintaining relevance and functionality of WUC through village saving and Loans system)
Yehora Yeguza Enshaho yei ziba, commonly known as the YY strategy is a local initiative that started in Rukooko parish and Mukono village in Kabambiro Sub County, Kamwenge District. It is a community led initiative to ensure operation and maintenance (O&M) of water facilities. Yehora Yeguza (YY) is vernacular for Save and borrow, while enshaho yei ziba loosely translated means the bag of the water source. Rather than keep the user fees dormant until such a time when spares are needed, water users of Rukoko Gravity Flow Scheme decided the funds could be accessed as loans which would in turn contribute to improved livelihoods at household level. This initiative thrives on committed and transparent leadership structures with clear bye-laws.
Hand pump mechanics empowered to carry out operation and maintenance
The Hand Pump Mechanics Association of Kibaale is a semi business model involving an association and a company. This initiative was started by one hand pump mechanic in Kibaale district in 1996 and now has a 42 strong membership with repair stock material valued at 3 million shillings owned by their company. It has been mentored by Technical Support Unit 6 (TSU6)/Ministry of Water and Environment and the District Water Officer. This association is governed by a constitution to which members agreed and appended their signatures. The association registered as a company at national level in compliance with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) queries in 2005 so as to secure borehole rehabilitation contracts from the district. As a registered company, they have Memorandum and Articles of Association, Value Added Tax (VAT) registration; Tax Income Clearance and a Trading Licence. Today they are able to audit their books using external services of qualified accountants and they have a strong governance and monitoring system through which community concerns are addressed. This association has potential to bid and win contracts to carry out repairs in the district. Functionality in Kibaale district is over 94% partly due to involvement of the association in routine operation and maintenance of water facilities.
Empowering communities to own and manage water systems through Local tendering process
Under this initiative, construction works are tendered out to prequalified contractors through a transparent process overseen by area local leaders, district and sub-county technical staff and representatives of community members. It follows a systematic approach of identification and engagement of private sector with local government and communities as stakeholders. Communities have a role of monitoring quality of works in accordance with bills of quantities/specifications as in the bid notice. The process, initiated by JESE, empowers communities to demand for better services as they have an understanding of the tendering procedures.
DLG and CSO partnership for improved O&M of water facilities
Kiywebe gravity flow scheme is found in Mahango sub County of Busongora East County in Kasese District was constructed to address the problem of water accessibility and related issues. The scheme serves Mahango sub-county and parishes like Nyakabingo that previously depended only on an open spring as their water source walking about 4 - 25km . Kasese District Local Government constructed this gravity flow scheme (GFS) in 2007 but delayed too hand it over to the community. As a result ownership issues arose and the GFS had software challenges ranging from management and others issues that affected its efficient functionality right after construction. The result was that it failed to meet the purpose for which it was established. It functionality was revived through a CSO local government partnership between SNV, RADF and Kaseses District local government.
Enhancing community management of water facilities (Revival of Mukunyu GFS Community management)
The decentralized dispensation, under Local Government Act (Cap 243), Local Governments are empowered to provide safe water and provides for the empowerment of communities to choose and manage their own developments. In the same spirit, Kyenjojo District Local Government constructed Mukunyu Gravity Flow Scheme (GFS). However, the community-based management system failed to take root, because of internal weaknesses and political interferences. Later the community was empowered to put in place a functional water supply and sanitation Board (WSSB). The WSSB has made sure that there is continuous safe water supply with reasonable minimal interruptions. Mukunyu GFS offers a good example of growing community based management system in the district.
