Sustainable community management of urban water and sanitation schemes : (a training manual)

This manual is intended to provide a trainer with the tools and information to build management capacity in the target communities in Tanzania to improve water supply and sanitation management practices. The courses in this training manual are based on participatory training methodologies, an important feature of which is to draw on the experiences of all the participants, under the guidance of an experienced facilitator. The participants will likely range from those with extensive experience to those with no experience managing a water supply and /or sanitation scheme. However, where possible, the trainer should encourage sharing of ideas and experiences throughout the training.
The seven modules are meant to equip communities with the tools to eliminate or reduce the major constraints in managing infrastructure and providing services. The manual also enables the clarification of the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders. It covers technical issues such as operations and maintenance activities—but also has a strong focus on institutional, managerial, and financial issues. The material is especially relevant for communities who have a relationship with the main water services provider and who are also committed to hiring an Operations Manager. The Operations Manager, the report says, should be a paid employee and their performance should be reviewed by beneficiaries. Although the manual is geared for trainers, it has also been designed to serve as a reference tool for communities who may wish to review the material on an on-going basis. Government, planners and donors will also find the manual useful for helping to ensure that communities have the appropriate skills to manage their infrastructure schemes.