2007-08 Water Resource Group A Strategy to Bring Safe Water and Sanitation to Those in Need.

2007-08 Water Resource Group2007-08 Water Resource Group

A Strategy to A Strategy to Bring Safe Bring Safe Water and Water and Sanitation to Sanitation to Those in NeedThose in Need


The Background:The Background:

1.2 billion people (one in five) lack1.2 billion people (one in five) lack access to safe water access to safe water

2.5 Billion have no sanitation2.5 Billion have no sanitation


Water borne diseases have a major Water borne diseases have a major impact on the health of the world:impact on the health of the world:

8000 people dying every day8000 people dying every day

250 children dying every hour250 children dying every hour

Filling 50% of world’s hospital Filling 50% of world’s hospital bedsbeds


Economic consequences are Economic consequences are equally serious:equally serious: 40 billion hours spent, per year, in Africa40 billion hours spent, per year, in Africa

alone collecting and hauling water alone collecting and hauling water

Women and children (usually girls) spendWomen and children (usually girls) spend up to 6 hours per day fetching water up to 6 hours per day fetching water

Families often spend up to 25% of theirFamilies often spend up to 25% of their income to purchase water income to purchase water


Water plays a critical role in Water plays a critical role in sustaining life and livelihood:sustaining life and livelihood: Population and family stabilityPopulation and family stability Gender equalityGender equality EnvironmentEnvironment Work and incomeWork and income Education and literacyEducation and literacy Human healthHuman health Reducing conflictReducing conflict


It was the only Millennium Development It was the only Millennium Development Goal (MDG) agreed on by all countries Goal (MDG) agreed on by all countries

Goal #7By 2015 reduce by 50%

the proportion of people without access to safe water and sanitation.


But the challenge is formidable; But the challenge is formidable; too many lack access:too many lack access:

Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa 47%47% East AsiaEast Asia 29%29% South AsiaSouth Asia 28%28% Middle-EastMiddle-East 18%18% Latin AmericaLatin America 18%18%


And these averages conceal the And these averages conceal the reality, e.g. in Africa:reality, e.g. in Africa:

EthiopiaEthiopia 78% lack access78% lack access SomaliaSomalia 71%71% ChadChad 66%66% MozambiqueMozambique 58%58% GuineaGuinea 56%56% CongoCongo 54%54%


Rotary’s Water Resource Group and Rotary’s Water Resource Group and WASRAG endorse the MDGsWASRAG endorse the MDGs

Every Rotarian to become aware ofEvery Rotarian to become aware ofworld water issuesworld water issues

Every Rotary club to implement aEvery Rotary club to implement awater and/or sanitation projectwater and/or sanitation project

Implement major demonstrationImplement major demonstrationprogrammesprogrammes


Thousands of clubs are already Thousands of clubs are already engaged in water/sanitation projects:engaged in water/sanitation projects:

Drilling boreholes, digging wellsDrilling boreholes, digging wells Rainwater harvestingRainwater harvesting Purifying water: slow-sand filtersPurifying water: slow-sand filters Solar disinfecting Solar disinfecting Building dams and mini-pipelinesBuilding dams and mini-pipelines Protecting PondsProtecting Ponds


They are often motivated by getting They are often motivated by getting a matching grant:a matching grant: A club decides to “do” a water projectA club decides to “do” a water project It scans the list of clubs seeking helpIt scans the list of clubs seeking help It selects a project, contacts host clubIt selects a project, contacts host club Together they submit proposal to TRF Together they submit proposal to TRF Grant is approved; work proceedsGrant is approved; work proceeds Final report submitted to TRF???Final report submitted to TRF???


But this approach is causing concern But this approach is causing concern among partners and some NGOsamong partners and some NGOs The resource may not be sustainableThe resource may not be sustainable The technology may not be The technology may not be

appropriateappropriate The people can’t maintain the serviceThe people can’t maintain the service No provision for spare parts No provision for spare parts Minimal behaviour changeMinimal behaviour change There is no link to community healthThere is no link to community health


And it will no longer satisfy many And it will no longer satisfy many Rotarians and/or funding partners:Rotarians and/or funding partners: They don’t want the hassle of managingThey don’t want the hassle of managing

small projects small projects They want projects having REAL impactThey want projects having REAL impact

on the community’s life and livelihood on the community’s life and livelihood They want to leverage with majorThey want to leverage with major

donors, foundations, corporations, NGOs donors, foundations, corporations, NGOs They want active involvement in theThey want active involvement in the

project; not just raising funds project; not just raising funds


Future success depends on Rotarians Future success depends on Rotarians taking a fresh holistic approach:taking a fresh holistic approach:

Focus on helping the community, not just Focus on helping the community, not just supplying watersupplying water

Understand, build on, adapt to localUnderstand, build on, adapt to local cultureculture

Involve ALL the stakeholders—especially Involve ALL the stakeholders—especially the womenthe women

Encourage local buy-in/ownershipEncourage local buy-in/ownership,,empower the local committeeempower the local committee


It also implies helping the local It also implies helping the local community and Rotary club to:community and Rotary club to:

Create a 3-5 year “vision” for the region Create a 3-5 year “vision” for the region showing linkages to schools, health, showing linkages to schools, health, agriculture, economic activityagriculture, economic activity

Agree on the scale & scope of the projectAgree on the scale & scope of the project Bring in other partners, local NGOs etcBring in other partners, local NGOs etc Agree on respective roles/resourcesAgree on respective roles/resources Prepare submission to TRFPrepare submission to TRF Prepare proposal to other funding agencies Prepare proposal to other funding agencies


And also to:And also to: Choose appropriate technology:Choose appropriate technology:

- Needs-driven, not supply-driven - Needs-driven, not supply-driven - Adequate supply chain - Adequate supply chain - Within the capability of the - Within the capability of the communitycommunity

Include sanitation and hygieneInclude sanitation and hygiene Train and encourage behaviour changeTrain and encourage behaviour change Implement systems to monitor Implement systems to monitor

progress progress and outcomes and outcomes


This approach implies a new This approach implies a new strategy for most Rotary clubs:strategy for most Rotary clubs:

A 3-5 year commitmentA 3-5 year commitment Multi-club/district partneringMulti-club/district partnering Alliances with other NGOs/agenciesAlliances with other NGOs/agencies Empowering the local communityEmpowering the local community Outside funding--$$$ millionsOutside funding--$$$ millions


WASRAG linkages (WASRAG linkages (www.wasrag.orgwww.wasrag.org) ) will enable this new strategy:will enable this new strategy: Access to NGOs operating in the areaAccess to NGOs operating in the area Sources of fundingSources of funding Access to resources and expertiseAccess to resources and expertise Evaluation of technologiesEvaluation of technologies Best practicesBest practices Training and behaviour changeTraining and behaviour change


Success ultimately depends on Success ultimately depends on your attitude towards your your attitude towards your partners:partners: Treat the “host” club as a trueTreat the “host” club as a true

partner—not a lever to get funding partner—not a lever to get funding Develop strong personal relationshipsDevelop strong personal relationships Develop & maintain mutual respect Develop & maintain mutual respect Ensure free and open exchangesEnsure free and open exchanges

Seek win-win solutions - the 4-Way TestSeek win-win solutions - the 4-Way Test

2007-08 Water Resource Group A Strategy to Bring Safe Water and Sanitation to Those in Need.

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