Water and sanitation management study : Keko Mwanga "B"

Date

2005

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Publisher

Southern New Hampshire University

Abstract

The research was conducted with 41 CBO members, youth groups, women groups, and local government leaders, for the requirements of the degree of Masters of Science in Community and Economic Development in the Southern New Hampshire University and Open University of Tanzania. The purpose of the research was to gain an understanding of Ukombozi CBO needs to manage community water and sanitation services and also to understand the community and other stakeholders views concerning issues of water and sanitation project management, expansion, lobby, advocacy and administration. The Ukombozi is a CBO established in 2002 with the aim to legally maintain and operate the community services, addressing community needs. The sample size consisted of randomly selected groups and individual members in the organization, 25 percent of whom completed their interview. In general, information was gathered in water services progress and capacity building especially with great concern on training. It should be noted that three quarters of the sample were females who needed training. Ukombozi CBO is situated in Keko Mwanga B, in Keko ward in Temeke district. The main activities of this group revolve around selling water and community mobilization. After the completion of water project construction activities funded by donor in collaboration with the community, spearheading members picked interest to establish CBO to manage water and sanitation project on behalf of the community. Over the course of more than two years of its existence; CBO members revealed a remarkable change in Keko Mwanga B community. The good example among community members is gradual reduction of water borne diseases; solid waste management has tremendously improved. Community members in Keko are more aware of communal work and have taken a big role towards the construction activities. However, some efforts were made to ensure water and sanitation project management but also faced by a lot of challenges that attribute to the rigid water and sanitation progress. These includes insufficient skills and knowledge to manage water and sanitation project, organizational management, lack of commitment and participation, insufficient human and financial resources encounter a number of CBO members become inactive. In order to achieve complimentarily and synergy interventions in the above areas, the training package presented in this paper would be implemented immediately so that the skills acquired used in water and sanitation management improvement. Recommendations and conclusions explained in this document can be consolidated and intensified during the implementation. The National response from early 1990s consisted on developing Water policy and strategies, which recognize and support community participation in WES management. (Author abstract)

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