Quarterly WASH Journal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Quarterly WASH Journal WASH SERVICE DELIVERY | PROFILES | Baffling Unit Costs SANITATION | Maria Mutagamba Minister of Water and Environment A DAY IN THE LIFE | Going for Growth PRO-POOR TECHNOLOGY | Interview with Doreen Kabasindi Wandera ENERGY | Prepaid Meters in Urban Energy Efficient WASH Programming WaterAidUganda Vision Foreword WaterAid’s vision is of a Uganda where everyone has access to safeMission water and sanitation. WaterAid transforms lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities. We work with partners and influence decision-makersOur values to maximize our impact. Inclusive WaterAid aims to be inclusive in all that we do. We Welcome the WaterAid WASH work with economically poor and marginalised Journal, the sector was voted best people who often miss out; these include women and performing sector in Uganda. girls, those living with HIV/AIDS, minority ethnic Even then I am delighted that we groups, older and disabled people and those who have articles covering pertinent face discrimination. The needs and voices of the issues of recent discussion in out communities we work with, our staff, volunteers, sector and our programme work partners and stakeholders shape our policy and that you continuously support. Alwayspractice. learning This edition includes a profile on the Water and Environment At WaterAid, learning is central to our practice. We Honorable Maria Mutagamba and continually evolve to make sure that our work is an interview with the Executive sustainable, innovative,Collaborative relevant and effective. Director Doreen Wandera Kabasindi six months going forward on the job. The water and sanitation crisis will only be solved by collaborative action. Our engagement with other WaterAid Uganda has been organisations, communities, staff and supporters petitioning for a pro poor underpins our success.Accountable We value their diversity. indicator that will ensure the sector performance and planning caters for the rights and access of We believe that we should be accountable, responsive WASH services please take time and transparent to those we serve and those who to sign the petition card within Inspiring support us. the newsletter and add you voice to ours. WaterAid is a passionate champion of the role Thank you for your continued safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation play support and have a nice reading. in improving health and education and reducing Courageouspoverty. Tim Fowler We set ambitious goals, raise challenging questions Country Representative and speak with courage and conviction. We are assertive yet humble and respectful. WaterAid Uganda Q UARTERLY WASH JOURNAL 2 Note from Editorial Team Editorial Team: Welcome to the first issue of Rebecca Alowo the WaterAid Uganda Quarterly Yael Velleman Journal. We want to bring James Kiyimba our readers insightful, useful, Editor In chief: Juliet Abaliwano analytical and entertaining articles on the subjects relating Layout and design: Davis Ddamulira to WASH. Photography: Drile Victor, Appling technology, policy Grand Brand Ltd and efficient programming to WaterAid Uganda WASH issues may not readily James Kiyimba be possible at times but the Contact: prospective stakeholders in the WaterAid Uganda WASH domain should definitely P.O. Box 11759 be informed as to what is out Plot 90 Luthuli, there to make efficient/effective, Bugolobi safe and eco-conscious decisions. Kampala Uganda [email protected] Finally on a lighter note we delve into the pleasures and responsibilities of manning the sector with some key interviews. Contents WASH SERVICE DELIVERY | PROFILES | Baffling Unit Costs SANITATION Maria | Mutagamba Minister of Water and Environment JOIN WATERAID GoingUGANDA for GrowthPETITION | NUMBERS | Petition Card A DAY IN THE RankLIFE Your | District PRO-POOR TECHNOLOGY Interview | with Doreen Kabasindi Wandera ENERGY | Prepaid Meters in the Urban Energy Efficient WASH Programming 3 V OLUME 1 I SSUE 1 , M AY 2 010 WaterAidUganda WASH SERVICE DELIVERY Baffling Unit Costs Vincent Njuguna and Rebecca Alowo High unit costs may rob funds that would for this trend there is a growing sector have gone to other deserving areas. This voice seeking explanation regarding these article seeks to examine and put into fluctuations. context the current debate on unit costs in the WASH sub sector in Uganda. Unit According to Rural Water Department costs are important indicators as it shows in Ministry of Water and Environment, the efficiency and use of scarce resources adequate per capita costs are fundamental while per capita costs measure how much delivering to the rural and urban supply it costs to deliver a service, per person. The water sector investment plan, which Ugandan poverty focus indicates that units they derive using a special Unit Cost costs seem to have a significant bearing to Estimating Tool that is built up technology WASH development. Between the period by technology by examining typical bill of of 2003 to 2009 the unit cost per water quantities. technology has increased and fluctuated significantly as shown in figure 1 and 2. With increasing demand for justification Q UARTERLY WASH JOURNAL 4 Graff-1 Figure1: Trends in per capita investment cost for small towns in $, (source: JSR, 2009) Graff-2 Figure 2: Trends in unit cost for rural water supply technologies (source: SIP, 2009) As per figure 2 boreholes have the for this technology. The same trend could highest unit cost but also usually the be stated for rehabilitation works as well, highest volume of water produced, which here too exist cost variation, and currently significantly reduces the per capita cost Iganga has the highest unit cost. Figure 3: Variations in Unit Costs for Borehole Rehabilitation in FY 2008/9 (UGX) source: DWD presentation from Eng Ian Arebahona (14/04/2010) 5 V OLUME 1 I SSUE 1 , M AY 2 010 WaterAidUganda The costs in a particular district are technologies such as boreholes and pipe dominated by the technology mix in systems. that district which itself will largely be a According to the Uganda Water and reflection of the geographical situation Environment Joint Sector Review process, the district finds itself in e.g. districts population growth and urbanization with high potential springs and safe and have led to demand outstripping supply, reliable groundwater tables will tend to particularly in Kampala. This challenge have lower costs than districts with scarce is compounded by old and limited groundwater that can only be accessed by infrastructure for water supply. Catchments deep boreholes and where expensive bulk have been severely degraded which has water transmission is necessary. reduced available water resources and Graff-4 Table1: Per Capita Costs in relation to technology mix: Source SIP 15 The technology mix for new investments increased the unit cost of production. This (refer table 1) is based on analysis of has often called for increased resource sub-county data on existing coverage and mobilisation to meet these challenges. technology mix. The locations where the The changing technology mix is illustrated geological conditions allows for the cheaper on Figure 3 showing how the cheaper technologies such as springs and shallow technologies, springs (purple) and wells wells have to a large extent been utilised (blue) that are presently dominating the and new water installations will have a technology mix in many districts, will by larger proportion of the more expensive 2035 be used to a much lesser extent. Figure: 3 GIS Map showing present (2010) and future (2035) technology mix, Source: SIP 15 Q UARTERLY WASH JOURNAL 6 There are a number of critical issues that number of people we should be reaching underlie the unit cost in Uganda and East is not attained. This makes the district Africa at large. WaterAid Uganda in this water burden even higher. The quality article is citing a few and acknowledges of spare parts and equipment also affect that this however may not be totally unit cost (leave alone import costs), with exhaustive. For a start technology is the poor quality being cheaper, breaking down primary cost driver, to the extent that if one faster and adding to the viscous cycle of is stuck with a poor or inappropriate choice increasing unit costs. It appears obvious (e.g. fuel driven pumping) then the O&M that the WASH sector has to acknowledge cost will remain high and will fluctuate due and redress some of these issues. to circumstance beyond the sectors control in the international markets. In conclusion unit costs which vary from district to district require the sector to The aspects of unit costs, in particular the keep a keen eye on. This is one of the capital component again tend to increase issues that local government, national over time and they are driven by several institutions and NGOs, need to ensure that factors. First, beyond the disparity in cost a national standard is discussed and used of feasibility investigations, construction Forto benchmark more information performance. see: and supervisory costs (be it CSO or Government), are exchange rates to import the equipment, spares (especially for • Rural Water Supply Department in the hand pumps and various mechanical Ministry of Water and Environment. movable parts), in addition topographical, • Uganda water and sanitation sector hydrological and geological variations investment plan launched 15 April across Uganda. 2009. Given the fluctuation of our local currency, • Water and Environment Joint Sector the pump may cost the same in US Dollars Review, October 2009. over a period BUT will increase in shilling terms. Once the equipment is landed then post procurement issues kick-in, the transporting, the installation, here is where the locals line their pockets resulting in inflated installation costs. Even if one argued that corruption is wide spread in rich and poor countries alike. In many countries, private companies pay substantial bribes, to ensure deals are formalized in their favour; this is no different in the Ugandan WASH sector. O&M costs also drive unit costs.