Water and Sanitation Sector Programme up to the year 2020 - Community Water Sanitation and Health (COMWASH) project identification workshop

30356 !~~ ' MALAWI GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI Ministry of Water Development TER AND SANITATION SECTOR PROGRAMME UPTO THE YEAR 2020 Project Identification Workshop Mangoc_i - Malawi, May 1998 Water and Sanitation Program Canadian InternationalEast and Southern Africa Region _'-.4I Cana AnernayUonaW I~ ~Dveomn Agnc UND t Wan Ban  Credits: These proceedings were prepared by Sam K. Sekyembe and edited by Brazille Musumba. Njeri Gicheri assisted in the preparation of the proceedings and Andrew Makokha reviewed them. Further technical assistance and the cover photo were provided by Chimwemwe Chikusa. Disclaimer. The views and information contained herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, UNDP, CIDA, WSP and the Government of Malawi, and do not imply the expression of legal opinion whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, area, or concerning the delineation of national boundaries or national affiliations. 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Box 60682 Dubois Road Nairobi Kenya  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY v Workshop Participants Workshop Objectives Key sector Problem areas Stakeholders Categories Lessons and Experiences Workshop Recommendations INTRODUCTION 1 Overview of Water and Sanitation Issues in Malawi Rationale for the Workshop WORKSHOP OUTLINE 1 Workshop Participants Workshop Objectives Workshop Methodology Workshop Programme SUMMARY OF OPENING SESSION REMARKS 2 Keynote Address by the Permanent Secretary Speech by CIDA Team Leader Official Opening Speech by the Minister REVIEW OF KEY SECTOR PROBLEMS 4 Identification and Prioritisation of Problems, Weaknesses and Constraints SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFICATION 5 Identification of Stakeholders Prioritisation of Stakeholders PRESENTATION OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS 6 The Purpose of the Presentations Summaries of Presentations Adoption of Lessons Learnt/Experiences Gathered WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS 13 Adoption of a Programmatic Approach Programme Name Programme Target Groups Programme Objectives Intervention Areas and Measures Existing Gaps Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop LIST OF TABLES: 21 Table 1: The Key Problems/Weaknesses/Constraints Table 2: The Current Stakeholders in the Water and Sanitation Sector of Malawi Table 3: Suggestions for Solving/Alleviating Current Problems Table 4: Detailed Analysis of Selected Stakeholders Table 5: The Extent to which the Proposed Measures are currently satisfied by Stakeholders LIST OF ANNEXES: 40 Annex 1: List of Participants Annex 2: Workshop Agenda Annex 3: Introductory Speech Annex 4: Opening Speech Annex 5: Report of the Ghana Program Evaluation Annex 6: Presentation Outline for Mozambique Transition Experience Annex 7: Study Tour to Uganda and Kenya Annex 8: UNICEF Experiences in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Malawi Annex 9: CU and SCF (UK) Experiences in Water and Sanitation Implementation in Malawi Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop Foreword Since 1994 when Malawi started implementing a decentralized and liberalized policy, the Ministry of Water Development has recognized Community Based Management as the cor- nerstone of sustainability in the water and sanitation sector. The key challenge has been, and still is, to redefine the roles of different stakeholders to plan, finance and implement demand responsive sector services for rural and peri-urban areas where the majority of the population lives. It is also to create an atmosphere where stakeholders can meaningfully contribute to a common sector vision without duplicating efforts and working at cross purposes. The coordi- nation of sector interventions which requires effective monitoring and evaluation systems is key to the success of sector objectives. In an effort to respond to the above challenges, the Malawi Government has put in place a National Water Development Project which is emerging as an important source of support to community based management. The rural component of this project is mandated to develop strategies to facilitate sustainable use of facilities beyond their economic life. Such strategies are to define systematic approaches to development and management of the sector by focus- ing on capacity building at different levels, developing new demand responsive and gender sensitive approaches and putting in place efficient and effective community based monitor- ing and evaluation systems. In support of the above efforts and as part of the process defining a sector vision, a stake- holder workshop has been held in connection with the preparation of a CIDA supported Community Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (COMWASH) project. This vision is to guide sec- tor actors' inputs to areas of maximum strategic impact. The workshop identified and ranked sector problems and proposed program development objectives and intervention measures for alleviating the problems. It reflected on program objectives met by existing projects and identified gaps in current interventions. These gaps define areas to be addressed by proposed future sector interventions in the country. The outcome of this workshop, forms the framework for planning, designing and implement- ing sector intervention measures in the country. The Workshop Report is, therefore, issued to guide sector stakeholders to prepare projects that will maximize community benefits accruing from proposed activities. The intention is to review, update and further clarify program objectives based on experi- ences gained. In this connection, stakeholders are invited to provide feedback from lessons learnt from application of the guidelines in order to facilitate the process of sector objec- tives review and updating. Hannah Kawalewale Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water Development Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADB African Development Bank CBM Community-Based Management CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CU Concern Universal DANIDA Danish International Development Agency DflD Department for International Development DRA Demand Responsive Approach GOM Government of Malawi JICA Japan International Co-operation Agency KfW Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MASAF Malawi Social Action Fund MIS Management Information System MOH Ministry of Health MOLC Ministry of Local Government MWD Ministry of Water Development NGOs Non Governmental Organisations NORAD Norwegian Agency for International Development NWDP National Water Development Project RWSG-ESA Regional Water and Sanitation Group-Eastern and Southern Africa RWSS Rural Water Supply and Sanitation SCF (UK) Save the Children Fund (UK) SIDA Swedish International Development Agency UNCDF United National Capital Development Fund UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund USAID United States Agency for International Development VHWs Village Health Workers VHWC Village Health and Water Committee WESP Water and Environmental Sanitation Programme WES Water and Environmental Sanitation WMAs Water Monitoring Assistants WHO World Health Organisation Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Workshop Participants 65 participants attended the workshop. They included: * Civil servants engaged in the water and sanitation sector; * Officials of local and international Non-Governmental Organisations working in the sector; * Representatives of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); * Consultants engaged in the promotion of water and sanitation; and * Representatives of communities that are affected by inadequacy of water and sanitation facilities and services. Workshop Objectives It was agreed that by the end of the workshop participants would have: a) reviewed the problems, constraints and weaknesses that are currently existing in the water and sanitation sector of Malawi; b) analysed the current characteristics of stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector of the country; c) utilised the outcomes of objectives (a) and (b) above and experiences drawn as well as lessons learnt from countries with similar problems/features to: (i) review Malawi's development objectives and intervention measures in the water and sanitation sector, (ii) identify gaps that need to be covered by support of additional development interventions. Key Sector Problem Areas Consensus on the main problem areas to be addressed in the water and sanitation sector was reached as : * Absence of a sanitation policy and weak water policy * Weak monitoring and evaluation function * Weak planning, programming and coordination of sector interventions * Inadequate environmental management * Inadequate training and weak management structures of primary target groups * Inadequate training and capacity of workers in the water and sanitation sector * Acute shortage of funds for sector development * Inappropriate technologies * High rate of population growth * Low level of involvement of private sector and primary target group (communities) * Inadequate political support Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop Stakeholders Categories The sector stakeholders were identified and classified as follows: * Water and sanitation policy makers * Consumers of water and sanitation services * Implementors of water and sanitation facilities/services * Developers of water/sanitation technologies * Financiers of water/sanitation projects/programmes/facilities * Advisors to the sector actors (i.e. consultants for: communities, policy makers, implementors, developers of technologies and financiers of projects) Lessons and Experiences Participants received and discussed presentations on lessons learnt and experiences gathered from sector work in Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya and Malawi. It was agreed that the lessons learnt and experiences gathered were relevant to present day Malawi, and that they be used to build a future vision for the sector. This is to be done elaborating intervention measures to address identified problems. Main Workshop Recommendations Adoption of a programmatic approach In order to expedite, systematise and synchronise development work in the water and sanitation sector, Malawi is to adopt a programmatic approach. This will ensure all sector interventions are planned, implemented and evaluated in a way that ensures that they directly contribute to the concept and objectives of the programme up to the year 2020. Proposed Programme target groups Up to the year 2020, the programme's target groups are to be: (i) rural and peri-urban communities whose lives depend on access to water and sanitation facilities (primary target groups) (ii) Village health and water committees which manage and sustain services of interest in the rural areas (iii) public and private sector extension workers engaged in water and sanitation promotion activities (iv) Water Boards, Local Authorities and commercially oriented providers of water and sanitation services (v) policy makers in water and sanitation (vi) consultants and contractors engaged in water and sanitation activities (vii) local NGOs which promote or implement water and sanitation activities Objectives of the Programme The objectives of the programme up to the year 2020 are to be: Overall Goal Health status of rural, peri-urban and urban communities is sustainably enhanced (through provision of potable water and improved sanitation) Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop Programme Purposes * Communities in rural and peri-urban areas apply participatory and gender sensitive approaches to actively identify, plan, implement, monitor, utilise, evaluate, operate and maintain water and sanitation facilities which are environmentally friendly and sustainable. * Communities increasingly apply recommended personal and environmental hygiene practices. * Local Authorities and other agencies sustainably provide water and sanitation services to urban and peri-urban communities in a gender sensitive, participatory, and environmentally sound manner. * Government agencies engaged in the water and sanitation sector effectively and efficiently regulate, facilitate, co-ordinate, supervise, monitor and evaluate operations in the sector. * NGOs, consultants and contractors demonstrate increased capacity to develop and disseminate appropriate technologies and to assist communities to plan, implement, monitor, evaluate and maintain water and sanitation services in an integrated, participatory, gender sensitive and environmentally sound manner. Results/Outputs * Availability of safe water is sustainably increased in the currently underserved areas * Promotion of participatory and gender sensitive approaches in development and management of water and sanitation services is intensified. * Promotion of appropriate hygiene and sanitation messages, methodologies and technologies is increased and intensified. * Capacities of local authorities and other agencies to promote water and sanitation in a participa- tory, cost recovering and gender sensitive manner are enhanced. * Regulations, guidelines and policies are appropriately reviewed and revised to reflect the pro- gram objectives. * Capabilities of civil servants to regulate, facilitate, co-ordinate, supervise, monitor and evaluate the water and sanitation sector are enhanced; * Co-operation of and collaboration among, stakeholders is enhanced; * Capabilities of local NGOs to raise relatively long-term funds, develop/disseminate appropriate technologies, promote integrated participatory planning, implementation and evaluation of projects in the sector are enhanced; * Appropriately qualified and competent contractors and consultants are available. Proposed Intervention Measures Intervention measures to the year 2020 is to involve activities that bring about the following effects: * Adoption improved laws/guidelines * Change of roles for civil servants in the sector * Facilitation of availability of more funds to the sector * Improvement of co-ordination among stakeholders * Enhanced capacities of stalkeholders in the private and NGO sectors * Enhanced operations and maintenance of facilities Summary Report, Annexes and Tables -  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop * Enhanced operations and maintenance of facilities * Enhanced participatory and gender sensitive approaches * Enhanced environmental protection, especially of the catchment areas * Increased accessibility to potable water especially in the currently underserved areas * Increased utilisation of appropriate facilities * Increased environmental and personal hygiene. Areas in which Support is Required To achieve the above effects, financial and technical support is still required in almost all fields of water and sanitation development, especially in the following area: * Promotion demand driven approaches * Formulation of sanitation policy * Development and implementation of improved management tools and systems e.g. databases, supervision systems etc. * Development of guidelines on donor assistance * Promotion concept of village based facilities * Improvement of legal framework for community based institutions * Training of community based committee members on participatory leadership * Implementation of sanitation services in peri-urban areas * Promotion of private sector to manufacture spare parts. * Identification and promotion of appropriate agencies to distribute spare parts * Linkage NGOs to long-term sources of Funds * Promotion of environmental protection, especially in the catchment areas * Increased coverage of water services/supplies * Enhancement of provision of water management data /Information and maintenance information system * Establishment of a planning and Co-ordination Unit in the Ministry of Water Development * Training of staff and community based operatives at all levels * Establishment of an appropriate M&E system. * Adoption of a programmatic approach to sector development i.e. project cycle management * Review of policy to include RWSS * Improvement of co-ordination of stakeholders * Enhancement of coverage sanitation * Security support of local readership * Enhancement of involvement of private sector actors. Summary Report, Annexes and Tables  i The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop 1. INTRODUCTION Overview of Water and Sanitation Issues in Malawi According to the Malawi Social Indicator survey, which was conducted during 1994, on average, only 37% of Malawians had access to safe water. The survey also brought to light the fact that the situation was very bad in the rural areas where, in some cases, only 5.0% of the population had access to safe water within one kilometre of residence. Other reports which were compiled at about the same time indicated that although up to 72% of Malawians had access to some form of sanita- tion, the facilities were adequate for only 6% of the population, most of whom lived in the urban areas of the country. In view of that undesirable situation, and on understanding that access to adequate water and sani- tation had been recognised internationally as a basic human right, the Government of Malawi made the provision of water and sanitation a priority issue in its current poverty alleviation programme. Unfortunately, during the years that followed the survey, rainfall in Malawi was scarce and drought induced disasters increased dramatically.. Another indicator of the acute water problem in the country was the observed depletion of ground and surface water resources. Rationale for the Workshop In an effort to alleviate the worsening water and sanitation problems, the Government of Malawi requested the Government of Canada to support its water and sanitation sector, particularly the preparation and implementation of a Rural Water and Sanitation Programme. As part of the preparation process, CIDA, through the UNDP/World Bank Regional Water and Sanitation Group for Eastern and Southern Africa, organised a study tour during the course of which senior officials in the water and sanitation sector visited Uganda and Kenya. Following this tour, a workshop was convened to determine areas where CIDA support to the sector would have maximum strategic impact considering the number and extent of sector support already existing. This report summarises the proceedings and outcomes of that workshop. 2. WORKSHOP OUTLINE Workshop participants The workshop was attended by a total of 65 participants. Their names, functions and contact addresses are provided in Annex 1 of this report. The annex shows that the participants mainly comprised of: * Civil servants engaged in the water and sanitation sector of Malawi * Officials of local and international Non-Governmental Organisations working in the water and sanitation sector of Malawi * Representatives of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) * Consultants engaged in the promotion of water and sanitation in Malawi * Representatives of communities which are affected by inadequacy of water and sanitation facilities/ services Workshop objectives At the beginning of the workshop, it was agreed that at the end, participants would have: 1 ) Reviewed the problems, constraints and weaknesses that are currently existing in the water and sanitation sector of Malawi; 2) Analysed the current characteristics of stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector of the country; Report, Tables and Annexes -  The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop 3) Utilised the outcomes of objectives 1 and 2 above and experiences drawn as well as lessons learnt from countries with similar problems/features to: (a) review Malawi's development objectives and intervention measures in the water and sanitation sector, (b) identify gaps that may be covered through support of additional external development agencies. Workshop Methodology The workshop process comprised of two types of sessions i.e. plenary sessions and group work sessions. Plenary sessions were held to facilitate presentation of inputs and to introduce steps or tasks to be undertaken by the participants during group work. It was also used to adopt (after necessary adjustments) the outputs of previously undertaken group work. In introducing each step, reasons for undertaking the step were agreed upon. Participants also agreed on how to structure the group discussions. During group work sessions, participants engaged in detailed discussions of the topic(s) assigned to them, taking care to present the discussions and group outputs according to prescribed structure/format. The metaplan method was employed i.e. the participants were required to write down their inputs and outputs on cards. The written statements were later presented to a subsequent plenary session for necessary adjustments and adoption. Workshop Programme The workshop covered three and a quarter days. During the first day, the workshop was officially opened and the participants engaged in a review of existing sector situation as well as problem identification and classification of key stakeholders in the sector. The morning sessions of the second day were committed to sharing experiences gained and lessons learnt in Malawi, Ghana, Mozam- bique, Uganda and Kenya. During the afternoon session, participants worked in groups to analyse issues of interest and to suggest measures for improving the current situation. On the third day, the outputs of groups were adopted in plenary. Later in the day, the participants continued to work in plenary to propose the sector's long-term objectives i.e. overall goal, purposes and outputs/results. Group work on identification of areas which needed extra external support could not be completed during the day. An overflow of this day's work occupied about 2 hours of the fourth day. A schedule showing the order in which the above objectives were tackled is provided in Annex 2 of this report. 3. SUMMARY OF OPENING REMARKS Keynote Address by the Permanent Secretary The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Development in Malawi, Mrs. Hawa 0. Ndilowe delivered a keynote address to the opening session on the following lines: * Considering that Malawi commenced work on community-based rural water schemes way back in the 1 960s, the country should be recognised as a pioneer of community participation in rural water development activities. * The Government of Malawi adopted the current Water Resources Management Policy and Strategies in 1 994, thus the sector is ready for evaluation and review. * The current workshop should assess the situation on the ground and give a clear vision for the future, with concrete ways and means of achieving that vision. * Among the problems to be addressed should be that of the current weaknesses in effective co-ordination of sector stakeholders. m Repor, Tables and Annexes  I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Proceedings of the Project Identification Workshop