Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile region DRAFT The Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes A case study in Mirab Abaya woreda Israel Deneke and Habtamu Abebe Hawassa March 2008 Working Paper 4 Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile region (RiPPLE) Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile region (RiPPLE) is a five-year research programme consortium funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID). It aims to advance evidence-based learning on water supply and sanitation (WSS) focusing specifically on issues of planning, financing, delivery and sustainability and the links between sector improvements and pro-poor economic growth. RIPPLE Working Papers contain research questions, methods, preliminary analysis and discussion of research results (from case studies or desk research). They are intended to stimulate debate on policy implications of research findings as well as feed into Long-term Action Research. RiPPLE Office, c/o WaterAid Ethiopia, Kirkos Sub-city, Kebele 04, House no 620, Debrezeit Road, PO Box 4812, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Acknowledgements The authors of this paper would like to thank the following for their invaluable support and time: • The Woreda LPA members for their support and time; • Desta Dimste, SNNPR Regional Facilitator, RiPPLE • Aschalew Sidelil, Alaba Special woreda Facilitator, RiPPLE • Tsegaw Hailu, Mirab Abaya woreda Facilitaor, RiPPLE • GaP theme members 1 Working Paper 4: The Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes: A case study in Mirab Abaya woreda DRAFT Contents Executive summary................................................................................................................. 6 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 9 2 Research background and methodology ....................................................................... 11 2.1 Background to the study area...........................................................................................................11 2.2 Background to RiPPLE, GaP theme and the case study..............................................................11 2.3 Objectives of the study and research questions...........................................................................13 2.4 Tools, methods and sampling............................................................................................................14 2.5 Study implementation..........................................................................................................................16 3 Findings............................................................................................................................. 18 3.1 Sustainability, functionality and service level of water services.................................................18 3.2 Resource availability at Woreda.......................................................................................................29 3.3 Knowledge, attitude and practices of service providers and users..........................................30 4 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 35 4.1 Institutional factors ..............................................................................................................................35 4.2 Financial factors ....................................................................................................................................39 4.3 Technical factors ..................................................................................................................................40 5 Conclusions and Recommendations.............................................................................. 42 5.1 Conclusions ...........................................................................................................................................42 5.2 Recommendations................................................................................................................................44 References .............................................................................................................................. 46 Annex 1: Mirab Abaya mapping data .................................................................................. 48 Annex 2: WATSANCo resources, selected Kebeles.......................................................... 57 Annex 3: Woreda office resources....................................................................................... 60 Annex 4: Stakeholder mapping............................................................................................ 61 2 Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile region (RiPPLE) List of tables and figures Table 3.1: Existing status of water supply schemes in the Woreda.............................................. 19 Table 3.2: Scheme functionality in Kebeles and associated population data ............................... 20 Table 3.3: Scheme main features ........................................................................................................... 21 Table 3.4: WATSANCo equipment and saving.................................................................................. 28 Table 3.5: Human resources available and required by sector offices ......................................... 29 Table 3.6: Resources available and required for basic service delivery........................................ 30 Figure 3.1: Proportion of schemes by type .......................................................................................... 18 Figure 3.2: Abandoned scheme ............................................................................................................... 24 Figure 3.3: Causes of scheme non-functionality .................................................................................. 24 Figure 3.4: Scheme development financing organisations ................................................................. 25 Figure 3.5: Different scheme technologies in the Woreda............................................................... 25 Figure 4.1: Wanke Wajifo Kebele WASANCo members and operators in an FGD................. 35 Figure 4.2: Maintenance tools – Ankober Kebele............................................................................... 36 3 Working Paper 4: The Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes: A case study in Mirab Abaya woreda DRAFT List of Acronyms ADB Asian Development Bank AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome BH Borehole BoWR Bureau of Water Resources CBO Community-based Organisation DFID UK Department for International Development EC Ethiopian Calendar ESRDF Ethiopian Social Rehabilitation and Development Fund FGD Focus Group Discussion FN Functional GaP Governance and Planning GPS Gravity Piped Scheme HDW Hand Dug Well HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IDR Institute for Development Research IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre KAP Knowledge, Attitude and Practice l/c/d Litres per capita per day LP Lister Peter LPA Learning and Practice Alliance LAR Long-term Action Research MAW-WRDO Mirab Abaya Woreda Water Resources Development Office MDG Millennium Development Goal MoWR Ministry of Water Resources MSW Machine Shallow Well NF Non-functional NGO Nongovernmental Organisation O&M Operation and Maintenance ODI Overseas Development Institute OPS On-spot Protected Spring PS Protected Spring 4 Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile region (RiPPLE) QIS Qualitative Information System RiPPLE Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region R-WaSH Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene SNNPR Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples Region SPSS Statistical Package for Social Science UAP Universal Access Plan UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNICEF UN Children’s Fund UNDP UN Development Programme USAID US Agency for International Development VLOM Village-level Operation and Maintenance WaSH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WATSANCo Water and Sanitation Committee WHO World Health Organization WVE World Vision Ethiopia WS Water source WWRDO Woreda Water Resources Development Office WWT Woreda Water Team ZWRDO Zonal Water Resources Development Office 5 Working Paper 4: The Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes: A case study in Mirab Abaya woreda DRAFT Executive summary The sustainability of community-managed rural water supply schemes is a key factor in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS), in terms of ensuring environmental sustainability, improving health and eradicating extreme poverty for the overwhelming rural majority living in the developing world. To sustain water supply schemes, it is vital to have the involvement of all segments of the community in the form of full participation and control over the scheme’s operation and maintenance (O&M), overall management, strategic decision making, ownership and cost sharing for O&M and construction activities. Moreover, such community management has to be backed by external agents over a long period of time with regard to technical issues for O&M, training, monitoring, information collection, coordination and facilitation. This study was conducted in Mirab Abaya Woreda by the RiPPLE programme under one of its thematic areas, the Governance and Planning theme (GaP). The