Read at :
Center for Sustainable Development
Project Sustainability: Put the Community in Charge
March 2011 Newsletter
THIS MONTH’S NEWS
Contemporary thoughts on community involvement and sustainable projects
A very well-done paper called “Why Some Village Water and Sanitation Committees Are Better Than Others” is a study of a series of projects that compares their effectiveness. Although this is based upon water and sanitation, the same thought process can be applied to other types of projects as well. Here are some of the conclusions that the authors arrived at:
“A key lesson from global research over the past decade is the strong relationship between a demand responsive approach and overall project effectiveness. External support agencies around the world are relying upon community level organizations to respond to community demand and assist in the planning, construction, and maintenance of water projects. Based upon evidence that these community level organizations can lead to more effective projects projects were designed to have committees that functioned at the village level.
This study suggests that if beneficiaries are able to express their views and set up water projects that meet their needs, they are more likely to work and the beneficiaries are more likely to pay to sustain the system. The village committees can enhance demand-based approaches by bringing decision-making down to the village level where users can decide, among other things, the type of technology, location of the facility, level and hours of service, tariff charges and how they should be used
Participation is important because a critical mass of community members must understand the potential benefits of the scheme and participate in setting project rules. Moreover people’s participation contributes to the achievement of the five main objectives of water supply projects: effectiveness, efficiency, empowerment, equity and coverage.
It is also important for the community to feel a sense of ownership for the resource; the community as a whole should believe that this is their project and they are responsible for keeping it operational.
The projects… were designed on the premise that establishing Village Water and Sanitation Committees would lead to more effective management at the village level. This study provides evidence to suggest that this is correct.”
Why Some Village Water and Sanitation Committees are Better than Others
http://www.sulabhenvis.in/admin/upload/pdf_upload/sa_ybetter.pdf
(continued)
