table of contents preamble 1. summary - ACT - Advanced ...

The hygiene and sanitation component that SOCADIDO grafted on his drinking water
interventions is also relevant since the link between safe water, hygiene, sanitation and health
is so important. However the interest of the target groups for this hygiene and sanitation
component is rather low, partly due to lack of education and comprehensive integrated health
and sanitation programmes.
At the end of 1996, the project started with one year delay. A completely new staff has been
recruted and trained, partially by the Ugandan office of Water Aid. The first year was
especially devoted to the development of the programme approach and of the skills of the staff
members. Some constructions have been implemented during this time but with a limited
conviction. It’s only from the beginning of ’98 on that the cruising speed has been reached for
the technical interventions and that the community mobilisation and the hygiene and
sanitation component started.
Due to the badly managed experimental phase and formulation process, the project file is not
always realistic or sufficiently detailed. It overestimates the implementing capacities of the
whole new staff SOCADIDO had to hire (and to train) and it underestimates some actual
construction costs. On the other hand, the data and approaches developed for the software
components remained vague; they had to be worked out during a start up seminar that only
took place in August ’97.
After two years, the quantitative results are only partially achieved. Only 44 water points have
been improved (out of the 88 projected for the first two years) : 25 springs and 19 handaugured
wells equipped with a handpump (instead of the planned shallow wells). Most of
those waterfacilities have now water users committees but only a few are really performant. In
total about 13.000 persons have been reached by the project.
The quality of the constructions has improved a lot during these two years and, with respect to
the water quality and the viability of the construction, one can confirm a good quality of
works regarding the Ugandan standards. Improvements are still possible with more important
excavating works and the protection of a more important catchment area for the springs.
Until now, no filter appendage has been completed. The whole approach has to be reviewed.
This experiment has to be treated as such with a sound planning, in transparency with the
community and with a very close monitoring in order to learn lessons on this technology and
its integration in the local social context.
In order to enhance community ownership and sustainability, the community is involved in all
stages of the project. The target group is informed on its roles and responsibilities. It
contributes all local materials, designs volunteers to be trained by the masons and guarantees
all unskilled labour. Water source committees are elected by the users and trained in
leadership skills and simple financial management.
Women make up for about 40% of the members of the committees and in different places they
have an important contribution in the mobilisation and the decision making.
The hygiene and sanitation component started only very late, but nevertheless in most villages
the start of a mentality change can already be noticed. One of the most important surplus
values of the project is the integrated approach of this hygiene component.
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