The Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment started to strengthen the community based operation & maintenance (O&M) support structures through the formation of Hand Pump Mechanics Associations (HPMAs) in 2011. The HPMAs have to be active in 80% of the districts in the financial year 2011/2012, and operational in at least 30% of the districts in the financial year 2012/13. The ultimate aim is to improve the functioning of rural water sources. What has happened so far?
Published on: 01/05/2012
The Functionality Thematic Group has adopted an action plan to operationalise at least 30% of district Hand Pump Mechanics Associations (HPMAs) as a way of enhancing community based operation and maintenance structures for rural water sources. The action plan is anchored in the Unganda Ministry of Water and Environment Undertaking number eight for the financial year 2011/2012.
Apart from operationalising the HPMAs, the action plan also aims to develop by July 2012, a framework for guiding local governments on engaging HPMAs. It also aims to increase the functionality of rural water sources to 85% up from 83% where it has been stuck for nearly five years now.
At the start of the implementation of the undertaking, a baseline study was conducted in 10 districts to assess the status of HPMAs in the country. Since the first-ever HPMA was formed in Kibaale District in 1997, other districts have followed suit achieving a rate of 81% in all districts in Uganda. A guideline for district local governments on the formation of HPMAs has also been drafted and discussed.
The action plan further indicates that in the coming months, the Ministry and its partners are going to focus on awareness creation and capacity building. There will be training in the areas of leadership and management; procurement and contract administration; financial management and reporting; and business skills. And by June 2013, the actors will have generated evidence on the impact of HPMAs on the functioning of rural water sources. The action plan also promises to document and share experiences at national and international level, and to conduct regular coaching and mentoring sessions for the HPMAs leadership.
Even as the HPMAs revolution rages, there are some key concerns which the members of the Functionality Thematic Group observed.
Spare parts: There is need for a regulatory framework and stocking of spare parts at sub-county level. It is also important to involve HPMAs in the spare parts supply chain.
Membership composition: It was noted that the HPMAs focus on the mechanics who are trained to handle only the hand pumps. There is a need to recognise other artisans and scheme attendants attached to sources with different technologies, for example those attending to piped schemes. The Group recommended that a clear strategy be adopted for the recruitment of new members into the associations. Although the HPMAs will primarily target hand pumps, they will gradually address other technologies.
Harmonised approach to rolling out HPMAs: The rolling out of HPMAs has so far varied from district to district. A guiding framework on the formation and operationalisation of HPMAs has been drafted. This will ensure the harmonisation of the process.
CBOs or private companies? In some districts the registration of HPMAs remains an unresolved issue – some districts support HPMAs to register as Community Based Organisations (CBOs) while others would rather have them register as companies in order to competitively bid for work. From the onset, the Ministry of Water and Environment's concept note on HPMAs emphasized association formation as CBOs to enable HPMAs to access benefits for improved cooperation and to learn from each other. The Functionality Working Group recommends that HPMAs first register as CBOs, but also be given the opportunity to gradually grow into business entities. They should not rush into forming companies for the sake of winning bids.
Should HPMAs get preferential treatment? The issue of insulation of the HPMAs to monotonously carry out repairs of rural water facilities was considered unfit for the prevailing Local Government Act. It was also noted that any engagement of the HPMAs by the districts through a memorandum of understanding requires clearance from the Solicitor General.
Who is involved? So far, the Ministry is working with IRC/ Triple-S, SNV, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and UNICEF. However, there are plans to bring more actors on board especially NGOs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which are involved in activities around rural water service delivery.
