Local governments have a crucial, and increasing role to play in the provision of rural and small town water services. Often, however, they struggle to take up these tasks. In this video, representatives of national government, district local government and WASH service providers from Ghana, Burkina Faso and Uganda share their viewpoints on the challenges, the way forward and the role of national governments and development partners in the support of local governments.
Read more...
In Uganda, local politicians often interfere with management of water supply facilities. They discourage water users from contributing the monthly operation and maintenance fees, arguing that government should provide free water to the population. This helps them win votes at election time. It is common to find water sources broken down for extended periods as the users wait for their elected leader to come and provide resources for repairs. In the meantime, they resort to unsafe water sources. Walalawo John Patrick, a local political leader in Apopong sub-county in Uganda did something different. When he sought support to get new water sources for his people, he was awakened to the fact that more than anything his constituents needed to revive and maintain existing water facilities.
Read more...
Commissioner Eng Aaron Kabirizi discusses sub-county water boards as an approach for addressing operation and maintenance.
Read more...
Paul Nyeko Ogiramoi explains how water supply and sanitation boards at local sub-county level can make community management work.
Read more...
Robert Otim, former Triple-S district learning facilitator in Uganda, discusses the capacity gap in addressing sustainable water services
Read more...
In Uganda 10 million people lack access to safe water. The Commissioner for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation says devolving water services closer to people and taking steps to improve functionality will achieve better services. Interview and recording by Peter McIntyre, Kabarole District, May 2013.
Read more...
'World Water Day is an opportunity for all actors to pay attention to the challenges that continue to hinder effective delivery of water services, especially to the rural population', says Jane Nabunnya Mulumba, country coordinator of the Triple-S initiative in Uganda. This video has been developed for World Water Day 2013 which was all around stakeholder cooperation.
Read more...
Behavioural change needs to happen at both user level and service provider level if water services are to remain sustainable. The Triple-S project promoted the need for rigorous learning processes for all water stakeholders in order to ensure services that last.
Read more...