In this final blog of the series, we explore the obstacles we have faced in recent months and what we have planned for the next six months.
The project so far has been a success and we have achieved a great deal, including:
The recruitment of two experts (a plumber and a manager) to the team
The creation of the Mankusa Abdogoma Water Supply System we will supply fresh water to 5,400 people.
The promotion of behavioural change such as good handwashing which has in turn resulted in an increase in basic sanitation and handwashing behaviour for over 4,500 people in the region.
An increase in membership payments which will enable the supply of effective and sustainable water services to the community and make them available for generations to come.
The Jabi Tehnan district preparing a funding proposal to secure additional financial support for a Kebele (not supported by the Allegra Foundation) after identifying it had lower Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) access and was to be severely affected by climate change.
A climate resilient water safety plan currently being prepared for selected some of the Kebeles.
Exposure Visit to Zalema Water User Association
Whilst we are pleased and proud of these achievements this time has not been without obstacles. One of the hurdles that we faced during this stage of the project was that there was a national election in Ethiopia. This meant that government officials were unable to take part in field-based activities due to the security threats posed during an election. Luckily, we had the foresight to build this into our plans and ensured that all activities that required or would benefit from government officials attending were delivered in advance.
Due to increased inflation rates the project saw an escalation in the cost of construction materials and medical equipment, obviously this did impact our expenditure, however we regularly monitored the effects of inflation and kept this in mind when planning our initiatives.
As we progress and look forward to the next six months next steps have been put in place. During this time we will
Train community and government staff on Community Score Card; a tool for assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation of services implemented.
Support the development of Woreda Universal Master plan, a consolidated WASH Plan to reach 2030 Sustainable Development Goal targets.
Plan for project completion and ensure sustainability of the project activities across the region. This includes handing over service delivery activities to community and District Authorities.
Thank you for your continued support.
Climate Resilient Water Safety Planning Training
