This project was implemented in Suma ward of Rungwe District. Suma ward is one of the 30 wards of Rungwe district council. The ward has 9 villages with the total population of 11,974. Of these 9 villages 8 villages have no portable clean water. From the community assessment carried in November 2007, the community identified four major problems: lack of clean water, poor roads, inadequate farming inputs and environmental degradation. Of the four problems identified, clean water was identified as priority need through pair wise ranking. Nevertheless, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used: Survey, PRA, and Documentary review. Tools used were FGD, Questionnaires, transect walk, observation and review meetings. Following the findings, the community members through ward development committee designed a project that addressed the problem and their need, which is setting Community water management. This was used as a base for the community to have a leading role in requesting for financial support in getting portable water in the ward as per National water policy of 2002 directives.
However, the project Goal was Enhanced Community Management capacity in water supply management in Suma Ward by end of 2008. The goal was to be accomplished through these specific objectives. Objective number one: Organize Community Members in 9 villages for Community Water Management by the end of year 2008, objective number two: Establish the Supportive Network between 9 villages and other stakeholders in the District to support their Initiatives by the end of the year 2008 and the last objective was to determine project implementation structure with the community by the end of the year 2008.
Moreover, the project had these output:
• Nine villages mobilized on community water management
• Ward development committee mobilized in Community water management
• 9 villages elected village water committees each comprised of six people, 50% women
• 9 villages elected Village Scheme Attendants, 2 people from each village
• Members of Village water committee and Village scheme attendants trained on basic of water management
• Community capacity in water supply management enhanced
• Technical and financial support provided by the stakeholders( ELCT Konde Diocese, Rungwe District Council(RDC) and Rungwe Smallholders Tea Growers Association( RSTGA)
• 9 villages mobilized on structure for water Users in the ward
Moreover, the following activities were implemented in for attaining the project objectives:
• 2 Mobilization meetings for the Ward Development Committee,(WDC) were conducted whose members were: Counselor- the Chairperson, the Ward Executive Officer,(secretary) and village chairpersons from 9 villages. The aim of the meeting was to prepare logistics for the mobilization meetings in their respective villages. The first meeting 11 attended, while second meeting 19 attended( some extra people invited for their inputs i.e. Village Executive Officers )
• The mobilization meetings in all 9 villages in the ward was conducted aimed at providing feedback of the community assessment carried and priority need indicated. Thereafter, the community was given information about the current Water policy and the role of the Community. Briefly, the major areas for the NAWAPO of 2002 were explained to the community members. The third concern was on the explanation of the responsibility of water Committee in the village and of the Village scheme Attendants. After all these, the community members were advised to elect the village water committee and village scheme attendants plus their leadership which could be the base for Community water Management. The activity was wholeheartedly done by the villages.
• Training assessment for the Village water committees was done for village water committee and village scheme attendants. The Community participated through WDC members, also, ELCT Konde Diocese was Consulted as it has experiences on water supply project in the area, again District Water engineer was consulted in the exercise.
• Prepare the training programe for Village water committee and village schemes attendants
• Discussion with community members on water supply system to be adopted, during mobilization campaigns, people accepted Water Users Association as a system which fit them.
• Conducted one day training for the village water committee and village scheme attendants, 64 out of 72 people,(89%), on roles and responsibility of village water committee, budgeting techniques, National water Policy and roles and responsibility for scheme attendants.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the project implementation, two mid monitoring and evaluation of project progress was done in order to track the progress and implement necessary adjustments
• Feedback meeting with the stakeholders regarding project progress was done. That is members of WDC and representatives from village water committees in the ward.
• Final evaluation for the project progress, and it was found that the project followed the set plan and it has contributed in enhancing the Community Capacity regarding water supply issues in the ward.
Generally this project has been successful as the 94% of the planned activities were accomplished. The community is now having community water management and they can be in a position for requesting water supply project .As to now, they have requested financial support and Technical feasibility has been done. Very soon the water project will start to be implemented under Ministry of Water and Irrigation being coordinated by Rungwe District council. Normally, this is doing things different from the mainstream, to start setting Community management before having the water project to many is a misnomer but has proved very important approach and ideal as many water projects in Tanzania are failing lack/ inadequate Community management system to oversee the management of water supply activities at the lowest administration level- the village.
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