Sustainable management of water systems in Halaba Special Woreda, Ethiopia

摘要

Access to improved drinking water in Halaba Special Woreda, Ethiopia was 43.5% in 2011. Its 280,000residents are highly dependent on water from 40 regularly malfunctioning deep boreholes. Incollaboration with stakeholders, People in Need has implemented a sustainable water systemsmanagement project in the woreda. The project seeks to address the underlying causes of persistentlypoor access to safe water through participatory capacity development activities. Preliminary resultsindicate reduced water scheme malfunction times, better links between stakeholders increased decisiontransparency, and improved efficiency and effectiveness of management processes. Several lessonslearned and challenges have been identified including: a need for strong responsibility ownershipamongst stakeholders; regulatory clarity regarding the legal status WASHCOs; and better understandingof local perspectives and financial factors. Overall, the project’s focus on improved access to safe waterthrough better management rather than water supply investments has shown to be both cost effective andefficient.