F. Ronald Denham, Chair Emeritus

Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action GroupGuelph – January 2014

All about Water: Engaging Rotary - Changing Lives

A young girl at the clear water well at the Mercy Home for Children in Kampala from the water-technology.net website).

Many WASH undertakings fail to deliver lasting service to their communities Fewer than 30% of hand pumps still function after five years

(UNICEF study) Many biosand filters no longer effective after six months

(UNC study) Uganda National Development Plan states functionality of rural water

systems in Western region is less than 50% A large number of Rotary water projects described as “rehabilitation” implies

failure of original investment

Background:

Many other anecdotes imply millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of hours wasted in non-sustainable WASH initiatives: “Of 2000 wells drilled in this country during the past five years, fewer

than 1000 still operate.” (Director of Water, Govt. of Ghana)

Major water kiosk initiative in Abidjan a failure – none of the kiosks still function

Piped water systems destroyed by theft of valves, connectors, etc.

sus.tain’abil’i.ty - nouncontinuity of service over a period of time; permanent beneficial change

Background

Many possible causes of failure: No sense of “community ownership” Failure to build on local culture and values Inadequate training, lack of trained people No provision for on-going service and maintenance Inappropriate technology Construction quality compromised Over-extraction, inadequate re-charge No monitoring and feedback

Background

Provide a water well for a community in El Salvador Provide water tanks for 160 houses in Brazil Provide five boreholes to a community in Burkina Faso Provide a pipeline for a village in Kenya Provide a reinforced concrete cistern

And, too often the project is just about water; it doesn’t address the real needs of the community: better life and livelihood:

Background

The traditional Rotary WASH project

ActivityInputs

• International partner R.C. decides to do a WASH project

• Contacts Host club• Request Matching

Grant• Invite local

community input

Output

Results

Focuses on the activity

• Dig well• Supply filter• Construct latrine• Install RWH• Drill borehole• Build dams

ActivityInputsOutput

Results

Hoping for these results:

• Safe, clean water • Working latrine• Collecting the

rainwater• Functioning well• Dam is effective• Sanitation facility

ActivityInputsOutput

Results

But the community wants much more:

Project

Program

Socioeconomic

goals - visionInputs Activity Outcomes Impacts

Output

Results

A program having a significant, sustainable impact on their life and livelihood:

It implies a broader scope:

Project

• Community development• Financial management• Behaviour change• Training, skill development• Capacity building• Commercial channels• Local authorities• NGOs• etc.

Link with other functions

And an extended time horizon:

Project • Vision for community• Feedback• Adapt to change• Integrated learnings• Life cycle costing• Valid business case• Appropriate metrics

• Community development• Financial management• Behaviour change• Training, skill development• Capacity building• Commercial channels• Local authorities• NGOs• etc.

Extend time horizon

Link with other functions

To develop a holistic program having real impact on the people and the community:

Project • Vision for community• Feedback• Adapt to change• Integrated learnings• Life cycle costing• Valid business case• Appropriate metrics

• Community development• Financial management• Behaviour change• Training, skill development• Capacity building• Commercial channels• Local authorities• NGOs• etc.

Integrated Program!

Extend time horizon

Link with other functions

A sustainable program implies a more rigorous start-up:

Activity OutcomesInputs

• The community• Baseline data• Collaborators/partners:

- Host & International RCs - TRF

- NGOs - Local authority - Outside funders

• Skills/know-how - Technology - Facilitation

• Regulations, policies• Environmental Issues• Gender issues

Output

ResultsImpacts

And much more emphasis on “software”:

Activity Outcomes ImpactsInputs

• Create teams• Build capacity• Needs assessment • Identify appropriate technologies• Life-cycle costing/affordability• Design/plan project• Build, construct, implement• Identify business opportunities• Design monitoring systems

Output

Results

The outputs are the means to deliver sustainability

Activity Outcomes ImpactsInputs

• Functioning system• Appropriate tariff structure• Management structure & processes• Valid quality & performance measures• Adequate flow of funds • WASH people trained, empowered and

accept responsibility• Viable business enterprise

Output

Results

The focus of the program should be tangible outcomes over time:

Activity Outcomes ImpactsInputs

• Community of people capable of making change for the better

• Women create economic value• Better attendance at schools

especially girls• Business and commercial activity• Better health, less disease • Feedback on performance• Advocacy for change

Output

Results

The community should have the capacity to sustain growth and improvement in life and livelihood:

Activity Outcomes ImpactsInputs

• A basis for other programs (education, health, etc.)

• Reduction of poverty• Food security• Less conflict• Enhanced economic value

Output

Results

Entire community moves up the ladder of self-improvement and sustainability

The Pilot Project Enhancement Program (PEP) is built on: Strong, effective country WASH teams Host club and community needs-driven projects Funded Needs Assessments Emphasis on “front-end” software and capacity building Rigorous evaluation of appropriate technology Access technology and project management expertise Training clubs and community Integrated monitoring and evaluation

The Rotary Foundation and Wasrag are moving in this direction with “PEP”:

Rigorous Needs Assessments Involvement/commitment of community and partner NGOs Extensive use of local resources Appropriate technology Professional management of program/project Provision for ongoing funding/tariffs Business opportunities for local entrepreneurs Coaching and helping the community to “own” the program

Global Grant requests must demonstrate the following to ensure sustainability:

Water and Sanitation is one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus It may become a successor to Polio Eradication That program saw Rotary clubs taking a global leadership role Significant, sustainable WASH programs will strengthen Rotary’s

image and support the brand; traditional small projects will not We should shift our focus from “Hardware” to “Software”;

leading the community, building capacity, changing lives

And, looking ahead:

Wasrag is the resource you need to engage your clubs in changing lives through safe water and sanitation.

Start tomorrow: find out how others are doing it - and share your experiences. Join Wasrag: Click on www.wasrag.org