FINAL NARRATIVE REPORT 1 June 2018 – 31 October 2020

COMMUNITY-LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT

Funded by SDC and Dutch Embassy

Yemen Hajja and Dhamar Governorates

January 2021

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COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 List of Acronyms

DRC Danish Refugee Council SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation NAMCHA National Authority for Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs SCMCHA National Authority for Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation MoPIC Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation GARWSP General Authority for Rural and Supply Projects LWSC Local Water and Sanitation Corporation NWRA National Water Resources Authority CSO Central Statistics Organization CWMC Community Water Management Committee CF Cleaning Fund CHVs Community Health Volunteers WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene CLEAR Community-Led Education, Awareness & Response (CLEAR) Project KAP Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices FGD Focused Group Discussion KII Key Informant Interview BCC Behavior Change Communication BoQs Bills of Quantities FWA Framework Agreement HH Household IDPs Internally Displacement Persons IEC Information, Education, and Communication IPTT Indicator Performance Tracking Table ITB Invitation to Bid MoM Minutes of Meeting MoU Memorandum of Understanding INGO International non-governmental Organization NGO Non-governmental Organization CHKs Consumable Hygiene Kits NSA National Security Agency WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant

Page 2 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The CLEAR project primarily focused on infrastructure interventions relevant to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in three districts in Yemen – Hajjah and Al-Mahabishah districts in Hajjah Governorate, and Dhamar city in Dhamar governorate. The project aimed to improve access to clean and safe water, as well as functional sanitation facilities, enhancing good hygiene practices, and build WASH-related capacities to respond to humanitarian needs of the targeted communities. The project was planned to be implemented over two years from June 2018 to May 2020 in three phases – starting in Hajjah district, Al- Mahabisha district, and then ending with Dhamar city. The project was further extended 5 months until 31 October 2020 due to implementation challenges, which will be elaborated in the report.

During the project period, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) achieved the following:

1. Conducted baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey that targeted 390 HHs in two districts (156 HHs in Dhamar city and 234 HHs in Al-Mahabesha district) to assess the WASH situation before intervention, and to identify the suitable hygiene messages in each location. 2. Conducted end-line knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey targeted 602 HHs in three districts (252 HHs in Dhamar city, 184 HHs in Al-Mahabesha district and 166 in Hajjah district) (Refer to Annex 1 for the End-line Report). 3. Conducted 31 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) (11 in Hajjah district, 11 in Dhamar city, and nine in Al- Mahabesha district) for 274 participants. Plus, 37 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) (14 in Hajjah district, 14 in Dhamar city, and nine in Al-Mahabesha district). The FGDs and KIIs were conducted to further understand the WASH needs of the communities and inform the activities to be implemented under this project. (Refer to annex 2 for FGD reports). 4. Rehabilitated water and sanitation facilities - in 16 sites (ten schools and six health clinics) in the three targeted districts - reaching 25,658 individuals (2,710 Men, 7,122 Women, 7,128 Boys and 8,698 Girls). This intervention contributed to the reduction of absence and dropout rates among students, and helped reduce urinary tract inflammation and diseases for 22% of school children. 5. Provided cleaning materials, and waste disposal equipment to 16 schools and health clinics. 6. Carried out solid waste clean-up campaigns in Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha districts, benefitting 10,603 households (77,439 individuals). DRC also collected and disposed 5,073 m3 of solid wastes in one community in Dhamar divided over the following areas (Al-Dairy Al-Janoobi, Al-Sakaniya Al-Olia, Al- Sakaniya Al-Sufla, Roma, Al-Dairy Al-Gharbi, Herran). Moreover, solid wastes were also disposed of in 2 communities in Al-Mahabesha. First community in Al-Mahabesha include the following areas: (Al- Mahabesha City, and Jabal Al-Mahbashi). Second community includes (Al-Mashan – Hajar Market, Al- Dhola’a, and Al-Dahen). 7. Conducted 2,625 hygiene promotion sessions that reached 15,095 individuals, (3,072 HHs) through 52 trained Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) in the three targeted districts. 8. Distribution of 7,500 Consumable Hygiene Kits (CHKs) to 10,829 individuals, 1,500 HHs. 9. Distribution of 8,350 CHKs reached 10,829 individuals, 1,500 HHs under COVID-19 response. 10. Installation of a water network in Al-Sharaqi area - Hajjah district - with provision of water meters to 64 villages, reaching 1,591 HHs, (An equivalent of 11,140 individuals). 11. Improvement of water supply system in Azzan area - Dhamar district - including a water network of Page 3 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 8,500 meters in length, and a complete solar system solution. This intervention benefitted 2,361 HHs, 16,527 individuals. 12. Conducted capacity building training for 52 CHVs. There were two separate trainings; the first one was knowledge training, including voluntarism work, WASH aspects, and key hygiene messages. The second one was skills training, including active communication, reporting, success stories writing, and time management. 13. Conducted institutional capacity building training on “designing and operating of solar water supply systems” which was attended by 26 individuals from the water authorities such as GARWASP, Local Water and Sanitation Corporation (LWSC), Ministry of Water and Environment (MOWE) and the National Water Resource Authority (NWRA) in Hajjah, Dhamar and Amanat Al-Asimah, and from DRC staff in both north and south. 14. Establishment of the Community Water Management Committee (CWMC) in Al-Sharaqi area, Hajjah district, which included 14 members who were trained on maintenance, management, and operation of the water supply system. This was done to build on the community’s capacity, ensure community engagement and ensure sustainability of the project as the CWMC is responsible for the management of the water supply system in Al-Sharaqi area. 15. Water quality testing was carried out in the three targeted districts. All water wells tested were clean, and met the World Health Organization (WHO) and Yemeni standards, but only two wells in Al- Mahabesha were contaminated with E-coli. DRC addressed the General Authority for Rural and Supply Projects (GARWSP) office to take an action and chlorinate the water sources, although it was not one of the locations that DRC was directly implementing in.

The key challenges faced during the project period was COVID-19 restrictions, which led to delays in implementation of some activities, and prevented key technical staff from traveling to conduct monitoring and supervisory activities. Additionally, the construction of the sewage network and wastewater treatment plant in Al-Mahabesha district, in Hajjah governorate, was delayed due to community-political conflict. Moreover, hygiene promotion sessions were suspended by the local authorities, in addition to preventing DRC’s team from registering beneficiaries for distribution of hygiene kits. Given these challenges, DRC submitted a budget revision and a modified work plan to donor, requesting a 5-months No Cost Extension (NCE) request.

2. COORDINATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS:

DRC began coordination efforts with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) in Aden, and the Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (SCAMCHA) - at a central level (Sana’a) - to facilitate approval for the project and sign an agreement. DRC held several meetings with the local authorities at governorate and district’s levels in both Hajjah and Dhamar, including the governors, water authorities (GARWSP, Local Water and Sanitation Corporation LWSC), education and health offices, Cleaning Fund (CF), local councils, community leaders, and other related parties such as security departments. The coordination efforts also included the WASH Cluster and other relevant actors to avoid any duplication of interventions.

Accordingly, an agreement was signed by MOPIC/SCAMCHA on the 1 September 2018, which was the actual start date of DRC’s intervention. The works began in Hajjah district as the first phase, in Dhamar

Page 4 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 city as a second phase, and then in Al-Mahabesha district as a third phase. DRC technical team met the local authorities, and conducted an overview meeting that discussed the project’s interventions in each district, including the role of each related governmental entity before, during, and after the implementation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between DRC and Dhamar governorate. Also, the Minutes of Meeting (MoM) was signed by DRC and all related governmental entities in Dhamar detailing the roles and responsibilities. In Hajjah, due to disagreements between the authorities, it was suggested to use the agreement signed at the central level by SCAMCHA, and MOPIC emphasizing that there was no need to sign an MoU and a MoM at a governorate level. The disagreement was based on the fact that DRC got sub-agreement from what was previously called NAMCHA. Then DRC created an MoU that was accepted in Dhamar, but not in Hajjah. The reason behind it not being accepted in Hajjah – as the relevant authorities in that area considered the sub-agreement to be enough. Consequently, this inconsistency led to the disagreement between the authorities. The coordination meetings were very helpful and cultivated good relations with the local authorities, especially when DRC encouraged them to monitor implementation, consultation, and shared with them the selection criteria. As a result of this coordination, many of the problems of implementation were successfully resolved with the help and cooperation of local authorities.

3. ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

FGDs AND KIIs (HAJJAH AND DHAMAR)

DRC conducted FGDs and KIIs to determine the communities’ priorities in terms of WASH needs. The FGDs were carried out in August 2018 in Al-Sharaqi area of Hajjah district, and in Al-Azzan area on October 2018 in Dhamar district, targeting different groups of host community members and Internally Displaced People (IDPs). KIIs were carried out with community leaders, school headmasters, health clinics managers and Sheikhs during the same time as the FGDs. A total of 22 FGDs and 28 KIIs were conducted in the two districts (11 FGDs and 14 KIIs in each) with the attendance of 221 individuals (104 in Hajjah - representing 64 villages - and 117 in Dhamar representing seven neighborhoods). The findings from the FGDs and KIIs are summarized below. Gender related issues were addressed and mentioned in the detailed FGDs report annexed to this report.

FGD sessions, Hajja district, August 2018

Page 5 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 BASELINE AND END-LINE KAP SURVEYS

1. DRC conducted a baseline KAP survey that targeted 390 HHs in two districts (156 HHs in Dhamar district, and 234 HHs in Al-Mahabesha district) to assess the WASH situation before intervention and to identify the suitable hygiene messages in each location. Moreover, DRC conducted an end-line KAP survey that targeted 602 HHs in three districts (252 HHs in Dhamar district, 184 HHs in Al-Mahabesha district and 166 in Hajja district). The results of these surveys are annexed to this report.

BWater fetching - Jerry-cans are used for drinking and non-drinking water – KAP survey results, Dhamar, November 2018

Open household cesspits which present significant health risks – KAP survey results, Dhamar, November 2018

OUTCOME 1: SUSTAINED ACCESS TO SAFE, SUFFICIENT WATER SUPPLY

Rehabilitation of water wells, and minor rehabilitation of water network In Al-Sharaqi area, Hajjah district, DRC - through GARWSP - carried out a pumping test in January 2019 for Al-Sharaqi water well before implementing any rehabilitation activities of water wells, to check whether or not the water quantity is sufficient for at least 20 years. The testing involved operating a water pump on the well for five continuous hours. The water quantity during the testing was 12 liters per second at the start; after 20 minutes, the flow decreased to 4.5 liters per second. GARWSP reported that this quantity is sufficient to cover drinking water needs for all residents in the targeted villages, and this well provides safe water to 64 villages, in addition to other water sources (cisterns and trucks).

Page 6 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that there are five cisterns constructed by DRC in 2017, with a total capacity of 1,045 M3. These cisterns collect water during rainy seasons and provide water to people living in Al-Sharaqi for domestic use. The Community Water Management Committee (CWMC) in Al-Sharaqi planned to use water from the rehabilitated well for drinking purposes with an expectancy of 3-5 liters per day. This would be controlled through water meters, which will be installed in each house in return of a monthly water fee.

A capacity building training course was conducted for the CWMC in February 2019, on management, maintenance, and operations; including how to calculate water consumption fees, and categorizing the expense. This was effective immediately after installation of water networks with water meters connected to each house to monitor consumption and indicate water consumption expense.

Based on the FGDs results, water network connection to houses with water meters was the first priority for people in Al-Sharaqi areas. The water meter is a community-based participation activity where each HH needs to purchase it from the Local Water and Sanitation Corporation (LWSC) – which is a common practice in Yemen’s urban areas - and the LWSC executes the connection works. The components of this activity were as follows:

▪ Supply and install galvanized pipes with different diameters and lengths (270m.l 1.5” diameter, 888m.l 1” diameter, 1,002 m.l ¾” diameter and 16,800m.l ½” diameter); ▪ Supply and install ductile valves with different diameters (10 valves 1.5” diameter, 13 valves 1” diameter, 15 valves ¾” diameter and 15 valves ½” diameter); ▪ Supply and install water flow meter with different diameters (10 flow meter 1.5” diameter, 13 water meter 1” diameter, 15 flow meter ¾” diameter and 842 flow meter ¼” diameter); ▪ Construct inspection chamber for main valves and flow meter; ▪ Plumbing toolkit for pipes to help the CWMC maintain the water pipeline network after implementation; ▪ Provide 4,000 liters of diesel to operate the generator and test the installed new water network.

In the middle of Azzan area - Dhamar district, DRC identified a water source/well that hasn’t been working for several years. The needs identification visits for this well showcased the importance of providing and installing a submersible pump, solar energy system, electrical water pumping unit, construction of a pump house, protection of the well room, and installation of water distribution networks ending with house connections. The scope of work under Azzan’s well/network includes but not limited to the following:

▪ Motorizing the existing borehole by installing a submersible water pump and associated control unit; ▪ Installation of 128 solar modules (panels) of 360 watts each; ▪ Fencing the solar panels’ compound with a brick wall; ▪ Laying and jointing a distribution pipe network of GI pipes (3 – 4 inch in diameter) of 4.9 kilometers (2.3 kilometers of 2 inch and 2.6 kilometers of 4 inch); ▪ Construction of a valve chamber.

This activity provided clean water with an average of 30–40 liter per person/day. The motorized borehole has a capacity of 40 cube meters per hour, or approximately 280,000 liters per day, assuming a seven-hour Page 7 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 irradiation period. In addition to implementing the water supply network in the eastern part of the district, DRC has extended the network to the southern part of Azzan as well.

The additional works in the southern part of the district included the following components:

• Rehabilitation of the pumping room where the borehole currently lies. This also includes constructing a base for a generator that will be provided by the LWSC. • Extension of the water distribution pipe network for 3.6 km (3 km of 2 inches and 620 m of 4 inches). • Installation of a chlorine unit. • Construction of a security room above the control unit. • Furnishing of the LWSC office created for this project to manage the two phases and equipping the office with solar power.

Total beneficiaries from water supply systems in Hajja and Dhamar districts

Total Individuals No District Sub-district Households Men Women Boys Girls Total 1 Hajja Al-Sharaqi 1,591 3,235 3,061 2,308 2,536 11,140 Azzan-1 1,361 1,715 2,096 2,572 3,144 9,527 2 Dhamar Azzan-2 1,000 1,540 1,260 1,890 2,310 7,000 Total 3,952 6,490 6,417 6,770 7,990 27,667

In both Al-Sharaqi and Azzan area, DRC developed Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and drawings, and published online advertisements for all interested and qualified companies/contractors who met technical and financial criteria such as:

▪ Valid registration cards. ▪ Bank guarantee. ▪ Provide high quality samples/materials. ▪ At least two contracts with INGO/NGO/UN/SFD for similar works (water wells / water networks). ▪ At least five contracts with INGO/NGO/UN/SSD in general construction works. ▪ At least one contract in civil works with INGO/NGO/UN/SFD > 30,000 USD. ▪ Company's / contractor’s with annual turnover of minimum 100,000 USD. ▪ Knowledge of geographical area, (such as former contracts for this area, having office in this area, having staff living in this area, etc.). ▪ Delivery Time (start date). ▪ Implementation schedule (timeframe). ▪ Best price.

Establishment and training of Community Water Management Committee (CWMC) in Al-Sharaqi area, Hajjah district:

Based on the FGD results, it was recommended to re-establish the CWMC of Al-Sharaqi water supply system as it was inactive. Under GARWSP’s supervision, representatives of the target community met and Page 8 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 re-elected the CWMC with the attendance of community leaders. As a result, 14 individuals were elected (11 male, and three female). Cultural restrictions of involving women in such committees - especially in rural areas such as Al-Sharaqi area – impose great difficulty to advocate for gender balance. The acceptance of women in these positions is still very limited, and initially, only one woman was selected. However, due to DRC’s resilience and continued persuasion, the community agreed to increase the number of female members, thereby resulting with two additional women participating in the community.

DRC, in close cooperation and coordination with the GARWSP - Hajjah branch, and the CWMC, conducted two training courses in six days aimed at building the capacity of the CWMC members to enable them to manage, operate and maintain their water system in Al-Sharaqi, Hajjah. The training courses were conducted from 4-10 February 2019 in DRC Hajjah office, and at the location of the water well for the practical training. The two training courses were as follows:

1. Operation and maintenance of water system including the following topics:

▪ Introduction to operating water system. ▪ Diesel motors including types, components, fuel & cooling systems, oiling, operating and maintenance. ▪ Electrical generator including components and operating & maintenance. ▪ Water pumping including famous types: Submersible pumps, Vertical pumps and Horizontal pumps. ▪ Control panel. ▪ Al-Sharaqi water supply system, components and operating & maintenance. ▪ Preventive and regular maintenance. ▪ Operating records. ▪ Practical training on the site of water well.

2. Management and administrative aspects of water system including the following topics: ▪ Organizational structure of the NGO.Tasks and duties of the CWMC. ▪ Meetings and staffing. ▪ Accounting and its functions, objectives, importance, contents and mechanisms. ▪ Financial planning. ▪ Budgeting and controlling of revenues and expenditures. ▪ Practical exercises on budgeting and financial forms. ▪ Water tariff including types, calculation, importance, practices on forming tariff and categorizing. ▪ Records and finance books. ▪ Store keeping and inventory. ▪ Financial and accounting reports.

The participants benefited from these two training courses as per their feedback on the last day of the training. This was further shown by the results of the pre- and post-tests for each participant. The GAWRSP Hajjah branch attended the opening and closing days of the trainings, and expressed their satisfaction with the trainers’ performance, trainees’ interaction and responsiveness, and the manuals and training materials that were used for the trainings.

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CWMC training Hajjah February, Woman Involvement in CWMC CWMC practical training Hajjah 2019 training Hajjah February, 2019 February, 2019

OUTCOME 2: SUSTAINED ACCESS TO SUITABLE SANITATION INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES

Minor rehabilitation of sanitation network

DRC planned to implement maintenance of sanitation networks in Dhamar district. However, DRC was informed officially by the LWSC that the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had already started this activity in the area. The budget for this activity was added to improving the water supply system in Azzan, Dhamar. The decision was communicated to donor and approved.

Also, DRC planned to construct sewage network and treatment plant in Al-Mahabesha district. As a community engagement strategy, it was agreed with the local authorities to obtain a signed approval list from the beneficiaries prior to the implementation, to avoid any problems during the implementation. The beneficiaries’ approval is crucial because of the close proximity to the sewage treatment plant from the beneficiaries’ lands or residences. This process required considerable time and effort. Furthermore, DRC contracted an engineering consultancy firm to conduct an engineering assessment and to design and develop the necessary BoQs, drawings, specifications, and design reports. Surveying took place in December 2019 and January 2020 and the reports were submitted and reviewed internally during February and March 2020. Moreover, a tender for the works was launched, and the site was handed over to the contractor in May 2020. As the contractor began excavation works in June 2020, DRC discovered that the land was not suitable for construction and began looking for a different land, while the contractor continued preparing the casting of the manholes for time efficiency. However, DRC faced challenges in identifying new lands at such short notice, given that the project end period was approaching. This challenge, compounded with the community’s resistance, prompted DRC to request for an NCE until the end of October. During the NCE period, local council and DRC pursued completing the work supported by Hajjah Governor and SCMCHA, but the issue of finding a suitable land, and the resilience from the community, was out of DRC’s and the local authority’s control, and the project ended in October 2020 without implementing this activity. More details described in the challenges section below.

Solid waste management

In cooperation with the Cleaning Fund (CF), the governmental authority for solid waste management in Yemen, DRC carried out solid waste clean-up campaigns in Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha districts. DRC provided cleaning materials during the clean-up campaign, and after its completion to ensure sustainability. Moreover, DRC also paid daily wages to cleaners, and provided diesel for the Cleaning

Page 10 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Fund’s (CF's) trucks on a daily basis. The collected solid wastes were moved to the landfills. The key selection criteria of workers were unemployed individuals from vulnerable households, especially marginalized groups, and IDPs - who were able to work from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00 (two shifts) - and were older than 18 years old. This criterion was created by DRC in consultation with the CF, and DRC finally selected the targets. Women were about 25% of the cleaning team and earned the same amount as that of men.

List of Cleaning Materials Quantity provided by DRC Items Dhamar Al-Mahabesha Hard Sweeping with Long Hand 150 pieces 120 pieces Iron Forks with Long Hand 80 pieces 100 pieces Spade with Long Hand 80 pieces 20 pieces Wheelbarrow 20 pieces 12 pieces Plastic Gloves 800 pieces 300 pieces Face Masks 100 pack 100 pack Bags for Garbage 1,000 pieces 2,000 pieces Safety tools 0 55 pack

Quantity of solid waste collected and disposed in Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha districts District Solid wastes disposed (Ton) HH’s garbage disposed (M3) Dhamar 817 1,647 Al-Mahabesha 1,061 3,426 Total 1,878 5,073

Beneficiaries from solid wastes clean-up campaigns in Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha districts Total Individuals No Area/Zone Households Men Women Boys Girls Total Dhamar 7,250 10,416 11,804 13,187 15,342 50,749 Al-Mahabesha 3,353 4,804 5,872 7,206 8,808 26,690 Total 10,603 15,220 17,676 20,393 24,150 77,439

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9 December 2019 26 December 2019 Figure 1. Before and after photos of a market in Al-Mahabesha after the cleaning campaign Annex 1

In parallel with the solid waste clean-up campaign, an awareness raising campaign was carried out in the community, and in schools by six male and female Hygiene Promoters equipped with Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. The awareness campaign targeted households (door-to- door) and community members in main streets, shops, and markets, in addition to school children through school's morning assemblies through media for about 10 minutes in each school. The awareness messages focused on the risks of solid waste on public health, food and water borne diseases, including Diarrhea and Cholera. In addition, it also focused on safe ways of collection and disposing waste, and finally, the community’s role in reducing such risks.

DRC designed and printed IEC materials (A3 posters and banners) related to solid waste management and public health and used them in Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha districts along with the clean-up campaign.

Beneficiaries from awareness campaigns in schools in Dhamar district School name Boys Girls Total 1 Mohammed Abdullah Saleh 1,000 1,000 2 Al-Rowad 450 300 750 3 Asmaa 1,300 1,300 4 Al-Mostaqbal 300 400 700 5 Jeneen 650 850 1,500 6 Al-Nahdhah 600 400 1,000 7 Al-Motafaweq 500 300 800 8 Toyuor Al-Janah 480 320 800 9 Al-Hamzah 1,500 1,500 10 Al-Mithaq 1,500 1,500 11 Abobakr Al-Sediq 1,500 1,500 12 Al-Khansaa 1,000 1,000 13 22 May 550 450 1,000 14 Abo Al-Hassan 500 400 900 15 Jeel Al-Ebdaa’ 500 300 800 16 Al-Shaymaa 1,000 1,000 17 Khalid ben Al-Walid 1,200 1,200

Page 12 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 18 Mojamaa Herran 1000 1000 Total 11,230 8,020 19,250

Beneficiaries from awareness campaigns at community level in Dhamar district Community level and markets Men Women Total

Total 840 300 1,140

To ensure sustainability, DRC sensitized people through awareness campaign dedicated for solid waste management along with the clean-up campaign on how to keep the environment clean and throw garbage in correct places. Moreover, DRC encourage the CF to continue such initiatives through the provision of cleaning materials, which cover at least six months period clean-up campaigns after DRC will leave the area. DRC coordinated with the WASH Cluster to push the other partners - especially United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) - to provide the big equipment such as bulldozers, powered garbage trucks, garbage bins to make such initiatives durable.

Minor rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities in schools and health clinic

In coordination with the local authorities and community leaders, ten schools and six health clinics have been selected based on the following criteria:

A. Schools: ▪ Governmental building, ▪ No less than 400 students, ▪ In need of rehabilitation and/or construction, ▪ Being near a water source is preferable, ▪ Cooperation of local authorities.

B. Health Clinics: ▪ Governmental building, ▪ Health staff is available and working, ▪ In need of rehabilitation and/or construction, ▪ Being near a water source is preferable, ▪ Cooperation of local authorities.

All related BoQs, drawings and specifications were developed, and the invitation of bids process went through DRC procurement process according do DRC’s Procurement Handbook. The selection of contractors started with forming a committee to deal with bidding process technically and then, financially the actual rehabilitation.

Page 13 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Through this activity DRC has improved the water and sanitation facilities in the selected schools and in health clinics with the following:

▪ Repair of toilets including the installation of any damaged/missing accessories and fixtures. ▪ Repair of sinks including the installation of and damaged/missing accessories and fixtures. ▪ Installation of new water taps with necessary piping works. ▪ Installation of water tanks and water pumps with necessary accessories and fixtures. ▪ Rehabilitation/construction of ground water tanks to ensure permanent protected source for water inside the building. ▪ Rehabilitation/construction of rainwater harvests using the building roof, connecting with the ground water storage tanks. ▪ Maintenance of internal drainage system/manholes including unclogging of blocked systems and repairs to damaged pipes and manholes. ▪ Repair of doors and windows including fabrication and installation of damaged/missing parts and replacement of locks, hinges, handles and painting of walls. ▪ Replace broken transparent glass windows. ▪ Cleaning/repairing ceramic tiles. ▪ Replacement of lighting fixtures. ▪ Ensuring accessibility for persons with physical disabilities and the elderly (ramps, handrails, eastern toilet, etc.). ▪ Installation of new drinking water stands including stainless steel stands, water filters, tanks, piping works and necessary accessories.

Beneficiaries from rehabilitation of WASH Facilities in Dhamar, Hajja and Al-Mahabesha districts Individuals No Area/Zone District Men Women Boys Girls Total 1 22 May School Dhamar 26 21 807 143 997 2 Al-Nasr School Dhamar 44 20 2,258 270 2,592 3 Al-Methaq School Dhamar 0 47 0 3,084 3,131 4 Al-Falowjah School Dhamar 15 9 457 406 887 5 Aiesha School Dhamar 0 47 0 1,185 1,232 6 Khawolah School Dhamar 1 25 0 839 865 Al-Wehdah Health Center 7 Dhamar 784 1,975 671 785 4,215 (September To December) Al-Hommyat Health Center 8 Dhamar 546 2,190 788 431 3,955 (September To December) Dhamar General Hospital 9 Dhamar 839 1,980 970 740 4,529 (September To December) Total Dhamar 2,255 6,314 5,951 7,883 22,403 10 Al-Haisami school (Al-M’mri) Hajja 21 1 445 310 777 11 Al-fateh School (Jabal Ayan) Hajja 14 3 194 196 407 12 Alhan HU (Al-Alyie) Hajja 29 45 83 96 253

Page 14 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Total Hajja (Al-Sharaqi) 64 49 722 602 1,437 13 Al-Noor School Mahabesha 15 11 317 0 343 14 Al-Fawz School Mahabesha 7 18 138 213 376 Al-Gharabi Health Unit (March 15 Mahabesha 199 182 0 0 381 2020) Reproductive Health Center 16 Mahabesha 170 548 0 0 718 (March 2020) Total Al-Mahabesha 391 759 455 213 1,818 Grand Total (16 sites) 2,710 7,122 7,128 8,698 25,658

Before the rehabilitation of the water and sanitation facilities in Al-Mithaq School, Dhamar district, all latrines were not functioning. There was no water available as the entire water network was damaged, and no water storage tanks were available. With a total of 3,131 female students in this school, around 20 percent suffered from urinary tract infections and kidney stones and were absent for 2-3 days a week due to a lack of latrines and water in their schools. Students needed to wait for a whole day without visiting the toilet and didn’t have access to water until they returned to their homes. Furthermore, two percent of the students suffered from diabetes and required frequent access to functioning latrines. Those students missed 50 percent of their attendance due to a lack of access to proper sanitary facilities.

After the rehabilitation of the facilities and the provision of water, absenteeism levels among the students dropped, including the students with diabetes, who were recorded present regularly after the intervention. Moreover, prior to the rehabilitation, around 30 percent of the younger students (grade 1-3) had to leave school early and return home to visit latrines. However, after the rehabilitation of the latrines in schools, young students were able to attend school full time.

In addition to the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities in schools and health clinics, DRC distributed cleaning materials to maintain a high level of cleaning at the schools and health clinics in Dhamar and Hajjah. These sites received their cleaning materials before the onset of COVID-19 in Yemen, and the below table outlines the items distributed in schools and health clinics in Dhamar and Hajjah districts: Items Unit Quantity for Quantity Total Quantity schools for HFs Broom with a wooden shaft (soft) Piece 166 43 209 Plastic dust collector Piece 86 23 109 Mob with wood hand Piece 86 23 109 Trash bin (medium size) Piece 92 25 117 Clorox bottles (4 liter) Piece 57 28 85 Powdered Soap (bag 2.5 kg) Piece 78 36 114 Brush for cleaning ground toilet Piece 58 27 85 Plunger Piece 64 29 93 Hard sweeper with long shaft Piece 32 17 49 Broom with a long shaft Piece 88 23 111 Cart for cleaning materials Piece 24 13 37

Page 15 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Spading fork with long shaft Piece 32 16 48 Plastic Bags for trash (black, big size) Bundle 76 33 109 Plastic trash bin (60 liter) Piece 47 25 72

Upon the onset of COVID-19 response in Yemen, DRC received a request from Hajja governorate’s health officials to modify the cleaning materials to respond to the needs of COVID-19. Accordingly, DRC provided one health facility in Hajjah district and two in Al-Mahabesha district with a modified set of cleaning materials focusing on sanitization materials. In March 2020, schools in Yemen were closed as a measure to prevent COVID-19 transmission and remained closed until August. Consequently, no additional items were distributed to the schools

Furthermore, the spread of the pandemic across the country resulted in a decrease in people seeking treatment from health facilities within the communities due to the fear of getting the disease from health facilities. The below table shows the cleaning materials distributed to beneficiaries in Al-Mahabesha and Al- Sharaqi in response to COVID-19.

Items Unit Al Mahabesha Al Sharaqi HFs HFs Povidine Iodine 1 L Liter 160 160 Hand Sterile WASH 500 ml Liter 226.8 226.8 Ethanol Spirit Liter 120 120 Liquid Sanitizer for floor 5 L Liter 68 68 Powder soap 250 g Kg 5 5 Hand soap Dozen 32 32 Sweeper with a long wooden shaft Piece 10 10 Plastic Bags for trash (50 L capacity) Dozen 80 80 Plastic bags of medium fit Dozen 76 76 Hand washing bins Piece 4 4 Toilet Bowl cleaning liquid, 1 L Bottle 12 12 Dish washing liquid, 1 L Bottle 8 8 Steel scourer set Pack 16 16 Sponge with scourer Pack 20 20 Air freshener (250 mg) Piece 20 20 Toilet paper (4 rolls a pack, 1400mm*100mm each) Pack 16 16 Kitchen paper towels (2 rolls a pack, 1400mm*200mm Pack 16 16 each) Office Tissues Pack 20 20 Garbage bin with cover (3 L) Piece 16 16 Soft brooms with wooden shaft Piece 8 8 Cleaning cart (30 L) Piece 8 8 Mop with a wooden shaft Piece 8 8 Toilet brush and holder Piece 4 4

Page 16 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Single use plastic gloves Piece 16 16 Multiuse plastic gloves for cleaning Pack 4 4 Rubber shoes Pair 4 4 Kitchen and Toilet Door Mat Piece 6 6

OUTCOME 3: IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE & PRACTICES AT COMMUNITY LEVEL

Public health & hygiene promotion IEC material

DRC designed a package of IEC material based on the results of the KAP study including the items below. These materials were distributed along with the hygiene promotion sessions at household, school, and community levels.

▪ Handwashing brochure ▪ Water borne diseases brochure ▪ Environmental / sanitation brochure ▪ School student timetable ▪ Flyers ▪ Banners ▪ Hygiene awareness handbook

Training of CHVs

DRC conducted knowledge and skills training course for 52 CHVs (Community Health Volunteers) (8 in Hajja district, 24 in Dhamar district and 20 in Al-Mahabesha district). The training was conducted in close coordination with the CWMC, local authority and related government institution, SCMCHA. The selection of volunteers also applied the same coordination and cooperation. The training topics included water consumption, water pollution, health risks from polluted water (diarrhea and cholera), water disinfection, water storing and saving, cleaning tools used for handling water, handwashing, spreading diseases causes, wrong practices at community level, garbage disposing, cleaning materials, awareness raising approaches, hygiene promotion, CHVs role and tasks, communication skills, and lastly how to convince the community to apply good and healthy practices.

The evaluation of knowledge among trainees in the beginning as per the pre-training test showed the average of 23.75% and the post training test showed an average of 59.75%. This result encouraged DRC to continue conducting capacity building during implementation on reporting. The CHVs also received a training on effective responses to COVID-19 to improve the community’s awareness of the disease and key protection practices, such as physical distancing.

Total beneficiaries from CHVs training District Male Female Total Hajjah - 8 8 Al-Mahabesha 2 18 20 Page 17 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Dhamar 1 21 22 DRC WASH staff 7 15 22 SCMCHA staff 2 1 3 Total 12 63 75

Hygiene Promotion Activities

The trained CHVs conducted hygiene promotion sessions starting on July 2019 until December 2019. However, they were stopped by SCMCHA in both Dhamar and Hajjah without justification. The activities were resumed in Dhamar after negotiating with SCMCHA. The hygiene promotion sessions focused on ten topics, as listed below, to improve the community members’ knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) approach.

▪ Rationing of water use (for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and other uses); ▪ Water-borne diseases; prevention and control (knowledge, indicators, and impact); ▪ Contamination of water, and water treatment (knowledge and practical exercise); ▪ Storage of drinking water and cleaning of water containers (knowledge and practice); ▪ Wastewater risks (knowledge and practice); ▪ Risks of open defecation (knowledge and practice); ▪ The importance of handwashing (knowledge and practice); ▪ Risks, types, sorting and disposal of home waste (knowledge and practice); ▪ Diarrhea (prevention and control); ▪ Menstrual hygiene and proper way for sanitary napkins disposal.

Through a KAP approach, DRC conducted the hygiene promotion awareness sessions in three phases: 1) transfer of knowledge and provision of information, 2) changing the attitude among the beneficiaries, and 3) promoting behavioral change and measuring impact.

HYGIENE PROMOTION CYCLE THROUGH KAP APPROACH

CHVs Selection and training Knowledge- Practices based sessions and hygiene impact promotion evaluation HYGIENE PROMOTION sessions CYCLE THROUGH Attitude- KAP based APPROACH Vulnerability hygiene idintification promotion sessions Enhance good practices through hygiene items distribution

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DRC has achieved the target for the hygiene awareness activity, and the following improved practices were observed by the CHVs (good impact):

1. Women who attended the sessions now practice proper handwashing, and newly purchased soaps were observed in the latrines. 2. CHVs procured plastic bags, distributed them in shops for garbage use, and provided prizes to the shop owners who committed to cleaning the streets in front of their shops. 3. Diarrhea cases decreased among targeted HHs in both Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha districts (The impact in Hajjah district was not measured due to restrictions on travel by SCMCHA). 4. HHs who participated in the sessions are now treating water at the HH level through water boiling, and a number of families have procured ceramic water filters. 5. Several families started using disinfectants for latrines to protect themselves from Cholera. 6. Several community leaders expressed their happiness and satisfaction with DRC’s interventions and provided DRC’s WASH teams with appreciation certificates.

Hygiene promotion beneficiaries disaggregated by gender/age HP Beneficiaries Host Community 7,044 District HHs Sessions M W B G Total Hajja 860 692 243 1,576 951 1,172 3,942 3,837 Al- 2,979 1,198 928 658 3,552 1,300 1,590 7,100 Mahabesha 1,235 Dhamar 865 862 263 1,658 621 939 3,481 Men Women Boys Girls Total 2,923 2,482 1,164 6,786 2,872 3,701 14,523

IDPs District HHs Sessions M W B G Total Hajja 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Al- 47 46 38 79 35 39 191 Mahabesha Dhamar 102 97 33 179 72 97 381 Total 149 143 71 258 107 136 572

HP Beneficiaries Total (Host community + IDPs) IDPs District 4% HHs Sessions M W B G Total Hajja 3942 Hajja 860 692 243 1,576 951 1,172 3,942 Al- Mahabesha 7291 1,245 974 696 3,631 1,335 1,629 7,291 Mahabesha Host Community 3862 Dhamar 967 959 296 1,837 693 1,036 3,862 Dhama 96%

Total 3,072 2,625 1,235 7,044 2,979 3,837 15,095 Host Community IDPs

Page 19 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Solar system training

DRC supported the operation of water systems through solar power technologies in different locations in Yemen. As the water authorities have limited experience and technical capacities in solar water systems, and in line with the institutional capacity building approach, DRC provided a training course titled “The Design and Operation of Solar Water Supply Systems” targeting all governorates in which DRC operates. A number of DRC’s WASH staff were also targeted with the training. The training comprised theoretical and practical components and was carried out for eight days by the University of Science and Technology. The expected outcome of this training was to improve the technical capacities of WASH staff, water authorities and technicians in solar water pumping systems, guide trainees on how to be creative, and emphasize cost- benefit analysis of solar systems as compared to other existing systems. The trainer prepared a comprehensive manual to be used during and after the training, which provided the necessary guidance for trainees to design and apply water solar systems.

The training covered several topics including water requirements, water source, system layout, water storage, solar installation, and panels location, design flow rate for the pump, total dynamic head (TDH) for a pump, pump selection and associated power requirement, panels selection and array layout, array mounting and foundation requirements, water flow rates, delivery point pressure and summary description of the system. The participant of the training were 26 individuals (eight GARWSP, five LWSC, one local council, four SCMCHA and eight DRC staff). The trainees were from Sana’a, Hajjah, Dhamar, Abs, Aden, and Al-Khawhal.

Hygiene Kit Distribution

During the project period, DRC distributed five hygiene kits to 1500 households in Hajjah, Al- Mahabesha and Dhamar. Distributions in Hajjah and Al Mahabesha were done over two rounds, with the first round distributing two kits, and the second round distributing three kits. Distribution in Dhamar was carried out over three rounds, with the first round distributing one kit, and the second and third rounds distributing two kits at once. Distributing the kits partially provided time for the beneficiary households to consume them.

Additionally, hygiene kits were distributed in all three districts. In Hajja district, the hygiene kits were distributed to 500 families (five months’ supply). In Al-Mahabesha and Dhamar districts, consumable hygiene kits were distributed to 500 families (three months’ supply). Due to the spread of the pandemic, social distancing measures were implemented to ensure safety of beneficiaries and staff during distributions. These measures included measuring the temperature of beneficiaries at the door, marking standing points on the floor to ensure a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between people queuing, and using sanitized individual pens instead of fingerprints for the registration.

The below table provides the disaggregated beneficiaries from the distribution of hygiene kits in Dhamar and Hajjah governorates.

Page 20 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 Individuals District - Governorate Men Women Boys Girls Total Al-Mahabesha – Hajjah 610 646 1,167 1,075 3,498 Hajja district – Hajjah 885 969 944 854 3,652 Dhamar district – Dhamar 776 834 1,066 1,003 3,679 Total 2,271 2,449 3,177 2,932 10,829

COVID-19 Response Activities

As part of the COVID-19 response, DRC has printed IEC materials to raise awareness on COVID-19 symptoms and modes of transmission. These IEC materials were jointly distributed with the hygiene kits to the beneficiaries.

In the north, 5000 hygiene kits were distributed in five districts Al-Sabe’en, Shoub, Hajjah, Al-Mahabesha and Sa’dah. DRC communicated with the authorities requesting permits to conduct beneficiary verification before the distribution. Additionally, disinfection liquids were procured and used in different WASH activities. Finally, seven pedal handwashing stations were designed and installed in densely populated areas, especially IDP community sites. The IDP sites maintenance committees are responsible for maintenance and water provision to the stations and ensuring that soap bars and other sanitation kits are available. Two schools received COVID-19 specific trainings, targeting male and female administration staff, teachers, and students with the attendance of 935 individuals (90 male and 45 female). The training included several topics such as information on diseases, transmission methods, prevention, control, etc. Teachers and students were advised to roll out this information to the schools’ surround communities.

In the south, DRC installed 50 pedal handwashing in targeted IDP sites in Lahj, Al-Tuhayta and Khokha districts. The installations were placed strategically at the entrance to IDP sites, near common areas as well as close to collection points to ensure usage before and after using the facilities. The Community Committees are responsible for providing water and mix it with bleach as they were trained to do. DRC has maintenance committees in the sites to ensure maintenance of the handwash stations, and to conduct door-to-door hygiene promotion awareness sessions to encourage behavior change among the targeted communities. In addition, the CHVs distributed COVID-19 IEC materials in the targeted communities and reached 1,042 HHs, 6,319 individuals (1,033 men, 1,245 women, 1,961 boys and 2,080 girls). In close coordination with the WASH cluster, DRC distributed 3,350 consumable hygiene kits in Lahj (1,350 kits), Al-Tuhayta and Al-Khokha districts (2,000 kits) to cover all IDP sties in the Aden hub. The distribution was carried out in three cycles during the month of July, August, and September 2020. It is worth mentioning that the kits distributed in Lahj were under this project and the kits distributed in the West Coast were under ECHO fund as co-activity.

Projects Cycle Management Training

In line the institutional capacity building approach, DRC signed a MoU with the Human Resources Development Unit (HRDU) of Ministry of water and Environment (MoWE) to conduct a six-day training course for WASH authority including GARWSP, LWSC, and National Water Resource Authority (NWRA) on

Page 21 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 projects cycle management. The training was held in two separate training halls taking into consideration s physical distancing as a precaution measure against COVID-19. The program aimed to raise the water sector staff capability on projects’ financial and technical management, and introduction to Microsoft Project. Three professional trainers in the theoretical and practical aspects from the faculty of Engineering at Sana'a University, and an expert from the water sector, were facilitating the training.

Training Topics: ▪ Identify the process of the project cycle ▪ Logical input to the project framework ▪ Project life stages, drafting and preparation ▪ Project financing ▪ Field visits and land ownership ▪ Project management activities ▪ Needs assessment and analysis ▪ Resource Management ▪ Design / cost / approval ▪ Decision-making process ▪ Tender document ▪ Tender and contracting ▪ Operational plans ▪ Project implementation / packing / restrictions ▪ Project planning / cost ▪ Implementation, supervision and control phase ▪ Communications and follow-up to the implementation of the project ▪ Project completion and evaluation phase ▪ Case study of a project from the water sector ▪ Use Microsoft Project ▪ Professional safety in projects ▪ Quality assurance of projects ▪ Control and communication during project implementation

The training methodology included groupwork, instructor lectures, PowerPoint (PPT) presentations, practical exercises, computer lab, and daily homework.

Pre and post evaluation tests have been designed and used to measure the impact of the training. The post- test results showed good improvement compared to the pre-test results (minimum 10 scores in the pre- test and maximum 85 scores in the post-test). The overall average of the pre-test result was 25% while the overall average of the post-test was 75%.

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4. CHALLENGES

4.1 New governmental instructions (Hajjah): The KAP survey in Hajjah district was planned to be conducted in September 2018, after a meeting held with the local authorities. This coincided with the new regulations released by the local authorities to see the field level surveys. As such, DRC shared the KAP survey questionnaire with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) at Sana’a level for review as per the new regulation. This resulted in an additional one-month delay despite daily follow-up by DRC staff. By mid-December 2018, CSO verbally requested DRC to suspend the implementation of the KAP survey in Hajjah because they received instructions from the National Security (NS) to delete some questions before resuming the activity, and then in the end CSO cancelled the activity in Hajjah district.

4.2 Community engagement: DRC planned to re-establish the CWMC in Al-Sharaqi, as the current committee is very old (established 20 years ago), although it should be re-elected every two years at most. During the FGDs, the beneficiaries expressed their dissatisfaction and complained about the old committee because of their unfair distribution of water. As such, DRC decided to address this matter with the local authorities - who were not supportive of the idea. Following extensive negotiations with the authorities, it was agreed to re-establish the CWMC. However, the formulation of the new committee was done in the absence of DRC participation, which compromised the election process since it was carried out without technical support (explanation of voluntary work importance, the right way of election/selection, tools, sub-committee election, etc.). DRC’s absence also compromised the neutrality of the process, affecting the fair representation of all targeted villages in the committee (source: list of elected people and villages). Some old committee members were re-nominated to be part of the new committee. As such, DRC decided to resume the Invitation to Bid (ITB) process (which was put on halt while the negotiations with the local authorities for the CWMC was ongoing) and conducted a meeting with the CWMC to introduce the work mechanism, ensure the proper management and fair distribution of water, and sign Minutes of Meeting in order to mitigate any potential issues that might arise with the local authorities, committee, and community members.

4.3 Performance of contractors: DRC contracted a contracting office to install water pipeline networks in Hajjah district of Hajjah governorate in January 2019 and planned to complete all works within three months - according to the signed contract and work timeline. During the tender process, the awarded contractor successfully passed the technical analysis and was selected as a lowest price tenderer. Unfortunately, the contractor did not commit to the timeline and spent about 50% of the contract period with very slow implementation. The contractor also failed to provide high quality materials (e.g. water meters) as agreed before signing the contract, and did not adhere to the minutes of meeting

Page 23 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 signed by him indicating that he would accelerate implementation. The contractor’s slow performance put DRC behind schedule. DRC ultimately terminated the contract and hired another contractor to finish the works. To mitigate such risks in the future, it is recommended to select a tenderer offering best value for money, rather than the lowest price, as well as obligating the contractor to provide and store all requested materials in the BoQs from the onset.

4.4 Water supply system in Al-Mahabesha district: In April 2019 a field visit was conducted in Al- Mahabesha, aimed at introducing the project activities to local authority and community key leaders. Meeting attendance and minutes of the meeting were prepared and signed. The attendees raised a concern regarding the availability of community water well and wanted DRC to dig a new well. DRC clarified that digging a new water well is beyond the scope of the project. They accepted the justification committed to locate a community water well that meets the technical requirements in order to start rehabilitation. The deadline for this was July 7, 2019. The head of MOPIC in Hajjah branch informed DRC that this challenge was on its way to be resolved. And since July 2020 this issue remained persisting because there are several private water well owners in Al-Mahabesha district who are currently selling water to the community members at a high cost, and are against the rehabilitation of the public water network to maintain their business interests. This issue was not solved by the local authorities, who suggested using the budget to extend the coverage area of the sewage network in the same district.

4.5 Distribution of hygiene kits: SCMCHA did not allow DRC to identify and register the beneficiaries who received hygiene kits in both Hajjah, Dhamar and Al-Mahabesha. Instead, SCMCHA shared a beneficiary list prepared by their office. As DRC follows the vulnerability criteria agreed upon at the cluster level, DRC advised SCMCHA that the list needs to be verified before distribution to ensure it meets the criteria. DRC also faced difficulties in verification process, which led to delay in the distribution for several months.

4.6 Hygiene promotion sessions: In 2018 and 2019, the local authorities did not authorize INGOs to conduct hygiene promotion sessions at the community level. However, after several negotiation efforts, they granted permission to conduct sessions. DRC accordingly conducted hygiene promotion sessions from July 2019 until the mid-December 2019. Although DRC has already met its target beneficiaries, SCMCHA nevertheless suspended these activities again.

4.7 COVID-19 pandemic: To reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the implementation of the activities, DRC ensured social distancing by marking standing point on the ground to ensure that people didn’t stand too close, took temperatures at the entrances and had distributions spread over multiple days to reduce crowding. These measures resulted in longer implementation timeline and additional implementation costs. Furthermore, DRC faced a delay in distributing the cleaning kits and materials to schools as they were closed due to the pandemic.

4.8 Sewerage network and wastewater treatment plant in Al-Mahabesha: DRC engaged Al-Qudami International Corporation for Import and Contracting to implement a wastewater treatment plant and a sewerage network including manholes in Al-Mahabesha town, Hajjah Governorate. The site was handed over to the contractor in late May, and the contractor began construction in early June. A few Page 24 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 days into the construction works, the contractor was excavating the site to reach the foundation of the ground of the selected site. However, after excavating more than 6 meters only, loose soil was found. Thus, the contractor communicated with DRC, and DRC notified the local authorities and started searching for an alternative site, and in cooperation with the local authorities, a couple of alternative sites were identified. After waiting for one month, the contractor was asked to move to the second site. The contractor started working in the second site and excavated a road to the location of the site. After 4 days of working on the second site, a community downstream interrupted the work progress at the site. Authorities from the governor office reached out to DRC and asked for 20 days to identify an alternative site. At the end of the period, the authorities identified a third site. The contractor and DRC requested that the authorities excavate the road to the newest site, in order to observe whether or not there will be community resistance. As the authorities started excavating more community resistance was faced. By the time the community resistance to the project was cleared, the remaining period of the project was not sufficient to complete the works. Thus, DRC paid the contractor for the costs of completed works at the two different sites, in addition to the costs of the manholes constructed (10% achievement only).

5. CHANGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISION

5.1 DRC planned to conduct maintenance of sewage network/plant in Dhamar district. However, the LWSC already received funds from UNICEF at the beginning of 2018 for the same activity. Therefore, DRC suggested to shift this activity’s budget to the water supply system activity to cover the critical needs.

5.2 For the activity of improvement of water supply system in Azzan area, Dhamar district, DRC estimated that the cost would be around $180,000 based on the pre-assessment. However, the costs have increased since then, and the local population size increased due to internal migration within Dhamar governorate, from the rural districts, to Dhamar district. In addition to the large number of IDPs moving to Dhamar especially from Al-Hudaydah. Therefore, DRC obtained donor approval to shift the budget planned for the sewage network and use it for the water supply activity to meet the needs.

5.3 DRC faced extensive challenges in identifying an appropriate site for the water treatment plant activity and securing acceptance from the community downstream despite sustained engagement efforts. These obstacles resulted in significant delays on implementation. To mitigate this issue, DRC requested an NCE in May 2020, which was granted until end October 2020. Eventually, this issue was not resolved and no progress could be made to complete this intervention.

5.4 During the reporting period, DRC identified the need for additional hygiene kits for COVID-19 response. With the approval of donor, DRC amended the project to include purchasing of additional hygiene kits, and delivery of additional hygiene promotion sessions in areas with high rates of COVID-19 infection.

6. LESSONS LEARNED

6.1 Community involvement is crucial: The CLEAR project is implemented in a participatory manner involving the communities from the beginning. This approach depended on the following:

Page 25 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 ▪ Conducting kick-off meetings in each governorate to introduce the project and its components to stakeholders including the local authorities, community leaders, and related parties. ▪ Preparing, discussing and signing an MoU with the local authorities. ▪ Preparing, discussing and signing a MoM with the related parties explaining roles and responsibilities. ▪ Establishment and training of CWMCs and involving them in the supervision of civil works to assure quality of implementation.

This approach helps ensure transparency, ownership, and motivation among the beneficiaries and community leaders, thus enhancing the sustainability of the project results.

6.2 Coordination between the donors and DRC as the implementing partner: Continuous coordination between the donor and implementing organization in accepting necessary changes of intervention components is key due to the long period between assessment and implementation. The nature of the project requires high consideration to any expected alterations that might happen to the intervention components due to time spent on assessment, calling for donor fund, obtaining government permission, and signing the agreements and sub agreements towards the start of the implementation.

6.3 Framework agreement: Having a Framework Agreement (FWA) for the required goods facilitates a smooth provision of materials. For example, the FWA of Basic Hygiene Kits (BHKs) and CHIs will facilitate the distribution upon starting hygiene promotion activities.

6.4 Provision of samples for material under contract: Failure in providing samples before implementing the installation of water meter in Al-Sharaqi area prompted DRC to request material samples prior to signing the contract with awarded contractor.

6.5 Baseline KAP survey proved to be fundamental in the design of hygiene-related activities since it helped identify and prioritize hygiene topics for each community.

6.6 Conducting hygiene promotion sessions through a KAP approach proved to be a useful concept and a practical approach towards behavioral change in communities.

6.7 IEC materials were more useful and acceptable when they were designed based on KAP results and were tailored to the local context and culture.

6.8 Hygiene promotion sessions alone are not likely to have the same impact as they would have if accompanied by the distribution of consumable hygiene kits, as both soft and hard components are needed to achieve sustainable change in community practices. As explained above, DRC could not distribute the hygiene kits in parallel with the hygiene promotion sessions for reasons related to SCMCHA.

6.9 Capacity building of CHVs and community leaders is key to creating a stable and continuous programmatic infrastructure that supports sustainability and scale-up of interventions.

6.10 Hygiene behavioral change was most successful when integrated with improving water points and Page 26 of 28 COMMUNITY -LED EDUCATION, AWARENESS & RESPONSE (CLEAR) PROJECT Final Narrative Report, 01 June 2018 – 31 October 2020 sanitation facilities at the community level and school level as well as hygiene kits distribution.

6.11 Menstrual hygiene messages can be delivered within the hygiene promotion sessions prior to the distribution of basic hygiene kits that contains sanitary napkins at the HH level, as well as the distribution of cleaning materials/bins at the school level.

6.12 Extended hygiene promotion activities (6-12 months) show the long-term impact on hygiene behavioral change.

6.13 Having female CHVs proved to be successful and more sustainable and allowed for conducting hygiene promotion sessions at the HH level and school level without any challenges related to the local culture.

6.14 Final payments for contractors: In Azzan, DRC finalized the contractor’s final payment immediately after the completion of the water network rehabilitation. However, soon after the network was tested by the authorities, minor issues came to light. The contractor refused to provide maintenance support to fix the identified problems. Although DRC still holds five percent of the payment for a period of six months after completion, this small amount did not provide enough leverage to prompt the contractor to cooperate. From this experience, DRC will delay the last instalment of the contractors’ payments until the network is tested and deemed completely functional.

6.15 Soil tests before start construction activities: In Al Mahabesha, DRC faced challenges in identifying an alternative land. The site was assessed as part of the selection process, but the sites unsuitability was only able to be identified once excavation started. Given the community resistance, assessing the land and conducting soil tests to assess the viability of the land was extremely difficult in such an unwelcoming area. From this experience, DRC learned that it should request the authorities to provide soil tests to ensure that the location is viable beforehand, as well as identifying alternative sites as a contingency plan.

Finally, and despite the many challenges faced in the implementation as well as the context in Yemen especially in the north, WASH interventions are key and highly regarded by the authorities and communities due to the needs and lack of resources in the country. After six years of conflict and limited resources, the general condition and basic services are deteriorating. Therefore, this project was very relevant and interventions carried out under this grant remain key in the Yemen context. Except for the WTP component and the delays, DRC was able to overcome challenges and reach the results set.

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7. Annexes:

Annex 1 FGDs / KIIs Report Annex 1.1 Summary of FDG and KII Hajjah and Dhamar Annex 2 WASH baseline KAP Survey Report Annex 3 End-line KAP Survey Report Annex 4 PDM report Al-Mahbesha Annex 5 PDM report Hajjah Annex 6 PDM report Dhamar Annex 7 Water pumping test report – Hajja

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