The Work of NGOs

Question 1

What does Water Aid do?

Answer 1

Works to provide adequate drinking water supplies and basic sanitation in poor countries

Question 2

Purpose of partnership?

Answer 2

Communities commit to partnering to develop locally based systems. Rather than aided, partnership empowers by implying equality instead of ascendancy

Question 3

The objectives of a community mapping exercise are to:

Answer 3

1. Generate discussion about water/sanitation issues
2. Map existing resources
3. Determine the population of villages
4. Determine rich and poor houses
5. Identify conflicts

Question 4

Steps in community planning

Answer 4

1. Ask everyone to gather symbols representing facilities
2. Each person adds symbols for their own household including the number of residents
3. By asking what different symbols mean, the facilitator can help the community identify problems

Question 5

Key points for holding public meetings:

Answer 5

1. Shut up and listen. Get the people to answer by asking questions.
2. Triangulate the data
3. Include men, women, children, the handicapped and individuals from different castes
4. Ask leading questions that allow elimination of possibilities

Question 6

Why is relying soley on water quality monitoring insufficient for the prevention of disease?

Answer 6

• sporadic nature of contamination

- delay between sampling and results

Question 7

What makes a water safe is the care people have for:

Answer 7

• activities in the catchment

- the treatment, storage and distribution of the water

Question 8

Key steps in water safety planning:

Answer 8

• involve people who know the water supply and can make things happen
• describe the supply, and identify, rank and plan to manage risks to provision of safe drinking water
• after implementation, check the plan is working and change the practice in light of new information

Question 9

Water and Sanitation Committees are responsible for the management of water supply and sanitation systems including

Answer 9

1. Managing daily O&M

2. Identify/ manage future risks

Question 10

Management steps for the provision of a new well

Answer 10

1. Form a water committee responsible for mobilising the community to dig the well
2. Have the water committee choose a caretaker to maintain handpump, well, surroundings, etc.
3. Ensure appropriate training of caretaker
4. Conduct a health education program
5. Implement the collection by a Water Committee member of a handpump user fee

Question 11

What are some positions on the Water and Sanitation Committees (WSC)?

Answer 11

Ideally community suggested roles

E.g. chairperson, treasurer, secretary, hand-pump caretaker

Question 12

What would be some personal qualities for the posts

Answer 12

Planning skills, patience, humour, mechanical skills, objectivity, trustworthiness

Question 13

Examples of tasks, committee members may need training in:

Answer 13

• how to operate/maintain pumps
• “keeper of the keys”
• how to collect funds for O&M
• how to liaise with local councils wrt the need for by-laws
• how to hold meetings, arrange succession planning, etc.