ASSESSMENT of CHALLENGES of SUSTAINABLE RURAL WATER SUPPLY: QUARIT WOREDA, AMHARA REGION a Project Paper Presented to the Facult
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ASSESSMENT OF CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL WATER SUPPLY: QUARIT WOREDA, AMHARA REGION A Project Paper Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School Of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Professional Studies by Zemenu Awoke January 2012 © 2012 Zemenu Awoke Alemeyehu ABSTRACT Sustainability of water supplies is a key challenge, both in terms of water resources and service delivery. The United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that one third of rural water supplies in sub-Saharan Africa are non- operational at any given time. Consequently, the objective of this study is to identify the main challenges to sustainable rural water supply systems by evaluating and comparing functional and non-functional systems. The study was carried out in Quarit Woreda located in West Gojjam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A total of 217 water supply points (169 hand-dug wells and 50 natural protected springs) were constructed in the years 2005 to 2009. Of these water points, 184 were functional and 33 were non-functional. Twelve water supply systems (six functional and six non-functional) among these systems were selected. A household survey concerning the demand responsiveness of projects, water use practices, construction quality, financial management and their level of satisfaction was conducted at 180 households. All surveyed water projects were initiated by the community and the almost all of the potential users contributed money and labor towards the construction of the water supply point. One of the main differences between the functional and non-functional system was the involvement of the local leaders. In the functional systems nearly half of the local leaders were involved in the initiation of the project and selection of the location of the water point while this was less that 15% for the currently non- functioning systems. Since, there was an inverse relationship between the involvement of local leaders and the quality of workmanship of the water point, and since Woreda offices are greatly understaffed, local leaders form the focal point of the community to interact and supervise the work with the contractor and organize the community. Another interesting finding was that more than three quarters of the users in the non- functional systems did not have the means to pay for the water services while payments was a problem for less than one third for the users in the functional systems indicating that ability how to pay for the maintenance should be an important consideration for the donors. In addition participation of woman was less in the non- functional systems in the study area. Thus a general held belief that the community involvement during initiation and construction of the water supply system is most crucial factor in the success of a water supply system does not seem to be important factor in the Quarit Woreda, but instead the organization of the community by having an effective local leader to interact with the contractor and Quarit personnel is important factor as well having the means to afford the payments for maintenance for a water supply system. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Zemenu Awoke was born in Debremarkos, Ethiopia to my father, Awoke Alemayehu, and my mother, Etatu Zerihun, on November 12, 1984. I started my education at Rebu Gebeya Elementary School and completed for 8 years. I was spent four years in Debremarkos High School. I then completed my high school education and joined a three year degree program in 2004 at Haramaya University. In 2006, I received a BSc degree in Agricultural Economics majoring Agribusiness Management. Two months after my graduation, I was employed as Junior Researcher at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural research. Two years and Eight months later, I Joined at ADRA-Ethiopia (International NGO) as Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in Somali region, Gode Zone and served the organization for 9 months. Seeing the announcement for the Cornell University Master’s program, I applied and was admitted and then continued my Master of Professional Science (MPS study program International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD)) offered by Cornell University. I have got deep knowledge, skill and experience on environmental concerns and challenges to human beings. As a result, I have been directed and helped my research interest to be on factors that determine sustainable water supply systems. I am eager to continue my education and earn a doctorate program so that I can aid my country, Ethiopia in particular and Africa in general with the help of God. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to the Quarit Woreda Water Resource Management head, Mr. Tesfaye and his staff members for hosting and providing the required support to carry out this research. I would like to thank also Mr. Tilahun for his continuous support during the research time for coordinating the data collection. This research would not have been possible from the beginning without the enthusiasm and motivation of Dr. Angela Neilan and Dr. Charles Nicholson in developing the initial concepts of the project proposal; I would like to say thank you so much. I would like to thank my parents not only for their support in this study, but also for all what they have done for me throughout my life. My kind thanks goes to my sisters, Zelalem Awoke and Kidst Lamesgin, for advising to join the program and supporting me in every way to complete my study. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my professors Dr. Tammo Steenhuis and Casey Garland for their unreserved support, constructive scholarly comments and assistance. I am greatly honored to thank, and to express my gratitude to Dr. Amy Collick and Mr. Siefu Tilahun, and all others who assistance me their unreserved support, kindness, consistent and assistance from the beginning of class up to end of this research. Without their guidance and assistance, this thesis would not be realized. I would like to thank Cornell University for its research grant so as to undertake the study. My appreciation also goes to the study community particularly the participants of the study who assisted me in providing necessary information in order to accomplish the research. My hearted thanks go to my survey assistants who helped for the data collection. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ......................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... viii ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................... 2 1.3. Objectives ............................................................................................................ 4 1.4. Research questions ............................................................................................... 5 1.5. Organization of the Thesis ................................................................................... 5 1.6. Scope of the Study ............................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................ 7 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................... 7 2.1. The Concept of Sustainability .............................................................................. 7 2.2. Defining sustainability in Rural Water Supply System (RWSS) ......................... 8 2.3. Determinants of sustainability ............................................................................. 9 2.3.1. Pre Project Factors ...................................................................................... 10 2.3.1.1. Demand responsive approach ............................................................... 10 2.3.1.2. Community and women participation .................................................. 11 2.3.1.3. Types of Technology ............................................................................ 12 2.3.1.4 Institutional Support .............................................................................. 12 2.3.1.5. Water resource and baseline survey ..................................................... 13 2.3.1.6. Raising Awareness and Training to Community and Management Bodies ................................................................................................................ 13 2.3.2. Post Project Factors ..................................................................................... 13 2.3.2.1. Cost