Performance Report for FY 2009/10 - UWASNET

Supporting Community Based Management System (CBMS)
Performance Report for FY 2009/10
Maintenance of rural water sources is done through the Community Based Maintenance System
with communities taking charge of the maintenance aspects of their water sources through
participating in the water source activities like cleaning and contributing funds for acquisition of
spares. NGOs involved in development of water sources train Water and Sanitation Committees
to take on the responsibility of developing capacity among the beneficiary population to be able
to operate and maintain their water sources. Follow-up support has been provided and retraining
carried out to keep the community based water source management committees and
resource persons (like Hand Pump Mechanics, Scheme attendants) active. During FY 2009/10,
an estimated total of 2,500 committees have been trained and re-trained. Eleven Piped Water
Scheme Attendants and 119 Handpump Mechanics have been trained to take responsibility
of O&M, sanitation and hygiene. Some 76 hand pump mechanics were supplied with tools for
handpump maintenance purposes.
Gender promotion
Of the Water and Sanitation Committees formed and trained, 5,870 (49%) were male; 6,065
(51%) were female. Data received was silent on the number of women holding key position.
However NGOs recognize the important role women play in the O&M of water sources given that
it’s the women and children who are charged with the collection of water. As part of their gender
promotion, CSOs conduct a number of gender specific activities such as in training of women
groups in income generating activities, gender training and sensitization groups, and training of
both men and women as masons.
Recommendations.
Based on challenges met and issues observed, the following recommendations have been
made.
• Review the CBMS strategy in light of levels of functionality of rural water sources and the
problems associated with CBMS. Consider a conditional grant for maintenance of rural
water sources and the management of rural water supply through management contracts
with private sector organisations with communities playing a monitoring role. As a further
step towards improving functionality, there should be support for hand pump mechanics
and advocacy for formation of hand pump mechanics associations as well as case
documentation of successful O&M stories and strategies
• Consider a review of the government ‘no subsidy’ for households’ policy to cater for the
needy and vulnerable families.
• There is need to increase sector financing to ensure realisation of the MDG goal of ensuring
universal accessibility to water and improved sanitation by 2015. It is critical to expedite
the process of refining the procurement policy such that NGOs/CBOs can participate in
bidding for contracts and consultancies at the district and lower local government levels.
• Government ought to provide direct funding for NGOs and CBOs in the Water and Sanitation
Sector and utilise the CSOs’ technical knowledge and resources in areas where NGOs
have demonstrated proficiency (as in software activities). Conversely however, the CSOs
ought to complement government efforts to attain sector goals and targets. The approach
advocated for is akin to the one under Ministry of Health where Government of Uganda
makes direct funding to CSOs to provide health services through health units and outreach
service. Such resources for CSOs in Water and Sanitation Sector would be channelled
through UWASNET.
19 | NGOs in the Ugandan Water and Sanitation Sector