Water For People - Stories from An International Development Organization

Malawi-bound: Monitoring the work of Water For People

Joe Goodwill — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:09:46 -0700

Well, packing is finished and I’m ready to head to the airport. It’s raining here in Philadelphia; I hope it doesn’t delay my flight, causing me to miss my connection to Johannesburg.

I’m excited to embark on my second assignment with the Water For People World Water Corps�. I will be leading a monitoring and assessment team in Blantyre, Malawi. It will be a challenging trip with the ultimate goal of assessing the effectiveness of the Water For People work in the rural area of Chikwawa.

I have a great team this year. It’s a small and diverse group, a physician from Florida, a water resources engineer from Colorado, and I’m an environmental engineer from Philadelphia. The team will spend most of our time surveying and auditing wells, hand pumps, latrines and hygiene facilities in Chikwawa, which is about 50 km southwest of Blantyre. Our examinations will include interviews with hundreds of people who use systems funded by Water For People and other partners.

Our team will be in Malawi for 14 days, visiting dozens of villages and interacting with community members. We will have a small amount of time to hang out and enjoy our new surroundings.

I am going to blog throughout my trip to Malawi, providing updates and summaries of our experiences. I hope you enjoy reading them, and find them informative. Keep your fingers crossed that I make all of my flights! Joe

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Major Announcement from Water For People's CEO

Ned Breslin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:23:42 -0700

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Download a copy of this letter.
Read more about this partnership in a letter written by Gary Edson, CEO of PlayPumps International - U.S.

Water For People is very excited to announce a significant investment from the Case Foundation that will enable us to accelerate and expand our efforts to promote innovative, sustainable and social-entrepreneurial driven water solutions in Africa. The Case Foundation, led by Steve and Jean Case (former AOL executives), is known for, amongst other activities, championing new methods of social entrepreneurship in the water sector its commitment to solving the global safe water challenge. We believe our partnership will help strengthen Water For People’s work overseas.

This week, the Foundation made a transformative investment in Water For People which will allow us to significantly expand the success we’ve had working with local entrepreneurs to provide technical support to communities in Malawi, Rwanda and Uganda. This is success that wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of you, our supporters, for the past 19 years.

The Case Foundation is addressing a key challenge through their investment in Water For People: that ongoing operations and maintenance is a challenge for almost all organizations involved in the delivery of safe water solutions. Put simply, broken pumps exist throughout the developing world because the financial and technical capacity to operate, maintain, repair and replace water systems is fragile.

An answer Water For People has found to this challenge of sustainability is the empowerment of “circuit riders,” who are mobile mechanics that visit village after village to maintain and repair water infrastructure. Circuit riders collect a fee for their services and become viable businesses that serve a social good by providing quality technical support to communities. This allows communities to continue to access safe water more effectively than was the case in the past. Downtimes are reduced, girls no longer walk past broken water infrastructure on their way to collect water from unprotected sources, and communities are freed from the burdens associated with repairing their water points.

In addition, PlayPumps International - U.S., which was initially funded by the Case Foundation, has contributed its existing inventory of pumps to Water For People. PlayPumps are a water supply technology that has historically been targeted at schools and clinics but will now be offered to communities within Water For People’s array of technology options. PlayPumps are a government-approved technology in Malawi, allowing Water For People to offer these to communities immediately. PlayPumps will now be included in the “circuit rider” program which means local repair and maintenance expertise will be accessible to villages and will ensure the better operations of these pumps in the field.

The combined, new resources from the Case Foundation and PlayPumps International - U.S. total roughly $2M in funds, assets, and in-kind support, complementing almost $2M of direct funding from Water For People’s program base in Africa.

The partnership is profound in that it puts the power of the Case Foundation behind Water For People and our unique model which encompasses using only appropriate technologies, continually monitoring our work, establishing partnerships to engage all key local entities, always requiring the community and partners to financially invest in their water solutions, and looking to the private sector to play a catalytic role in solving development challenges. In the end, the relationship will unleash the potential of the local private sector to scale work and solve problems sustainably. We’ll have an increased ability to engage the local private sector and demonstrate ways that the local private sector can play a key role in eradicating water poverty. We’ll have the opportunity to offer communities a larger portfolio of technology options supported by “circuit riders” when determining the best solution for their needs. And we’ll incorporate all of this into our signature World Water Corps® volunteer mapping, monitoring, and evaluation program to ensure the longevity of every solution.

The investment from the Case Foundation is a testament to all our staff, especially those in the field, who are pushing on the edges of the sector and showing there are better ways to work and have lasting impact. We are honored by the Foundation’s endorsement of our view that partnerships with the local private sector, community, civil society and local government are vital to the success of any international development project.

Please join me and the team at Water For People in celebrating this transformative partnership.

My thanks,

Edward D. Breslin
CEO, Water For People

Water For People Announces Investment from Case Foundation to Expand Sustainable Safe Water Solutions in Africa

Eileen Lambert — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:22:43 -0700

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Media contacts:
Eileen Lambert, Water For People, (720) 488-4584
Allyson Burns, The Case Foundation, (202) 467-2059

Water For People Announces Investment from Case Foundation
to Expand Sustainable Safe Water Solutions in Africa
Expanded effort to be based on social entrepreneurship, local involvement to provide multiple,
sustainable water solutions

DENVER, October 27, 2009 Water For People today announced a transformative investment from the Case Foundation to accelerate and expand its efforts to provide innovative, sustainable water solutions in Africa. This investment will be used to support a dramatic expansion of Water For People's programs, harnessing the power of local entrepreneurs to provide sustainable operations and maintenance support for a portfolio of community water solutions in Malawi, Rwanda, and Uganda.

“Water For People views social entrepreneurship and innovation as a critical but underutilized element of sustainable water solutions,” said Ned Breslin, CEO of Water For People. “We are honored to be associated with the Case Foundation, which has been a leader in social entrepreneurship and is committed to bringing sustainable water solutions to those who need it most. This alliance will help unleash the power of the local private sector as a resource for development. Our shared goal is to dramatically improve the sustainability of a variety of rural water technologies, leading to a world where safe, sustainable water supplies are the norm not the exception.”

Water For People’s expansion efforts will be focused first in Malawi, then in Rwanda and Uganda, to stimulate and scale up innovative models using the local private sector’s capacity to provide on-going operation, maintenance and repair services for an array of community water technologies. This will include an expansion of Water For People’s successful “circuit rider” program, where communities hire local entrepreneurs for effective operations and maintenance services that enhance water source sustainability.

As part of these efforts, PlayPumps International - U.S. will be contributing its inventory of manufactured pumps to Water For People, broadening the technology options to be offered to communities. The combined, new resources announced today by Water For People total roughly $2M of funds, assets, and in-kind support, complementing almost $2M of direct funding from Water For People’s program base in Africa.

“We and others in the water sector have become increasingly aware that bringing safe water to those who need it most requires new and innovative approaches to give communities a choice of solutions and to ensure truly sustainable supplies,” said Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation. “Water For People is a passionate leader in this effort. These investments will allow Water For People to expand its offerings and leverage the power of the local private sector to end water poverty and transform lives.”

In the developing world, sustainability of community water supplies remains elusive largely due to limited technology options and poor on-going operation and maintenance results. Water For People aims to transform the rural water sector by demonstrating alternative models that place social entrepreneurs at the forefront of water sector development to significantly reduce community water project failure and scale efforts in new ways. Successful safe water system implementation requires a vibrant private sector that can help ensure access to affordable and reliable services that keep systems operational, spare parts available, and technical support for challenges beyond the community’s capacity accessible all built around a sound understanding of water sector policies, practices, and strategies.

Within this framework, Water For People will use the resources announced today to accelerate and expand its programs around the following core elements:

Engagement of the private sector A key goal of the program is to unleash the power of the local private sector as a resource for community development. Initially focused on Water For People’s existing program in Malawi, and then expanding to Rwanda, Uganda and elsewhere over time, Water For People will offer proven entrepreneurial approaches, training and capacity building of local private sector partners to service a market for the ongoing operation, maintenance, and repair of community water systems. The program will also demonstrate ways that the local private sector can play a key role in eradicating water poverty.
Deployment of safe water system technologies coupled with innovative operation and maintenance approaches Rural villages will be offered a portfolio of safe water system technologies (e.g. hand pumps, rope pumps, PlayPumps, etc.) in order to “road test” opportunities for scale. Private sector approaches for operation and maintenance of these systems a key element of sustainability will also be implemented. The emphasis will be on proven models, such as the use of local, independent contractors, or “circuit riders,” to service water infrastructure and ensure sustainable supply chains.
Long-Term Monitoring Water For People is incorporating its long-term, 10-year community monitoring initiative into this program, utilizing the World Water Corps® volunteer program. World Water Corps® volunteers will offer professional and technical support including mapping, baseline data for development, capacity building for local stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluation of past and current projects.

About Water For People
Founded in 1991, Water For People is a Denver-based private, nonprofit international humanitarian organization that supports the development of sustainable safe drinking water resources and improved sanitation facilities in developing countries. The nongovernmental organization is distinguished by its focus on local private sector development, inter-organization collaboration, social entrepreneurship, and the engagement of stakeholders, which combine together to achieve sustainability. The organization has active water, sanitation, and hygiene education programs in 10 countries in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Water For People is a charity of choice of the American water and wastewater community. For more information, visit www.waterforpeople.org.

About the Case Foundation
Jean and Steve Case established the Case Foundation in 1997 to reflect their family’s commitment to finding lasting solutions for complex social challenges. The Foundation invests in people and ideas that can change the world. The Case Foundation is committed to solving the global safe water challenge and to championing new methods of social entrepreneurship in the water sector. In 2006, the Foundation made a three-year investment in PlayPumps International, a fundraising and awareness organization dedicated to providing African communities with safe water. The Foundation will continue to champion new models for social entrepreneurship and seeks to broaden the use of new technologies to make giving more informed, efficient, and effective. For more information, visit www.casefoundation.org.

Fighting Disease with a Little Soap and Water

Eileen Lambert — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:53:02 -0700

Check out the archive of past newsletter articles

Dear First Name Supporter ,

Celebrating Global Handwashing Day, Oct. 15, 2009

We talk about the importance of safe water and adequate sanitation often, but neither of these goals is accomplished in a silo. Hygiene education is a vital part of the mission of Water For People and whenever possible, we incorporate it into country programs. We've discussed that 6,000 people die everyday from water-related diseases, but did you know that within this disturbing statistic, 4,000 children under five die every year from diarrheal diseases due to poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation?

Today, Water For People programs throughout the world will celebrate Global Handwashing Day and you can join us. Our teams in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America will keep you posted through Twitter and Facebook on this fun, impactful day.

Education about the importance of proper handwashing is helping to instill good habits throughout the world. In fact, handwashing with soap cuts the incidence of diarrhea by nearly half, according to the World Health Organization. But people all around the world fail to wash their hands after critical moments. (Use your imagination folks.) By focusing on children, hygiene programs help improve entire families' health because kids bring the good habits home and influence their parents.

Take the "Mar�a Lopez" Elementary School in Villa Rivero, Bolivia for example...
A story by Veronica Pena, Water For People–South America regional reporter

Many students at "María Lopez" Elementary School in Villa Rivero, Bolivia were constantly absent from classes, mostly because they had diarrhea. Children used the school bathroom and cleaned themselves with small rocks and returned to class without washing their hands. In 2008, when the handwashing program started, thanks to the agreement between Water For People and the German international aid agency GTZ that donated educational materials, two classes signed up and in little time the whole school took up the initiative. Professors attended training seminars held by Water For People in which they were shown which supplies were needed and the right way to teach children to wash their hands.

"The amazing thing was that stomach sicknesses began to decrease and students did not miss classes. All of the children made and decorated their own disposable bottles and had kits with soap, a towel and a brush. They took them home and used them, and they were the ones that taught their parents." ~ Professor Daysi Lara, Former Principal of "Mar�a Lopez" Elementary School in Villa Rivero, Bolivia

The program provided schools with kits containing basic hygiene supplies including a fingernail brush, fingernail clippers, a towel and soap. The implementation of the program in the school was very successful, and Professor Daysi Lara, the school's former principal, together with the other professors, has been invited by other municipalities to give talks about the process.

"Villa Rivero is proud to have been the first [within the area], and the program has become very large with the help of parents and the institutions. My school has been the example," says Lara.

"The amazing thing was that stomach sicknesses began to decrease and students did not miss classes. All of the children made and decorated their own disposable bottles and had kits with soap, a towel and a brush. They took them home and used them, and they were the ones that taught their parents," Lara said.

Thanks for taking a moment to celebrate this special day with us, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook today to see the effect that learning good habits has on children throughout the world.

See you at the sink, and don't forget the soap!

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Challenging the Norms of the Nonprofit Sector

Ned Breslin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:10:38 -0700

People often ask what I like most about Water For People. There are many possible answers but what inspires me the most is when we challenge a sector norm (because that norm is not leading to lasting solutions for communities), apply something new and watch as it takes off. That is where real change will occur—not in simply banging in boreholes and latrines but rather by being willing to ask hard questions, experiment with alternatives when we learn that standard practice is not effective and apply these lessons at scale so that more people are helped.

The recent cyclone in West Bengal, India, demonstrated how new ways of thinking have helped communities partially recover from the devastation that left 5 million people destitute. Water For People began experimenting with private-sector maintenance teams because standard sector practice— which requires all communities to be trained to operate and maintain their water systems—is rightly being questioned.

Water projects are broken all over the world, and we must ask the hard question: Why? Part of the answer is that creating sustainable community water committees is not easy. Over time, trained committee members leave the group, at which point there is often extremely poor follow-up and retraining of new committee members. Maintaining a stable committee is complicated because volunteers may need to leave to earn money for their family. Also, committees can be sources of conflict because when systems fail, the committee members get blamed.

Communities must have management options, including one that allows them to simply pay a private entrepreneur to keep their systems running. The sector must stop dictating the terms of community management and offer choices, just as we do with water technologies and sanitation systems. Water For PeopleIndia did just that. Private mechanical operators (Jalabandhus) have been keeping water points running for years and communities have been paying for their services. Then after the cyclone hit in May, they continued their work and became the heroes of the recovery.

They mobilized after the water systems were destroyed and had all but three systems historically supported by Water For People operational within a week (the three not operational are still under water). The Jalabandhus did not stop at "our" water points, but have supported the rehabilitation of water supplies for an additional 65,000 people. And this shows, amidst the horror of post-cyclone West Bengal, how important it is to question the norms of "standard practice."

This private-sector model will now rightly gain momentum as it has delivered at a time of extreme hardship. I cannot imagine many communities who struggle with water committees returning to that structure—the Jalabandhus just proved that they can and will do the job that can lead to long-lasting sustainability. That is success.

To read more Aila updates go to: www.waterforpeople.org/aila

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Water For People-Trained "Jalabandhus" Repair Wells and Sanitation Facilities After Cyclone Aila

David Stevenson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:58:02 -0700

In late May, cyclone Aila stormed ashore with its coastal surge and flooding destroying hundreds of thousands of homes and displacing more than 5 million people throughout Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.

Aila hit 133 villages particularly hard where Water For People operates in West Bengal. And in the 44 worst affected villages— villages where Water For People has worked the longest and invested the most—damage was severe.

Latrine coverage was decimated in the area, which otherwise would have met Water For People’s goal in its 2007–2011 strategic plan in the latter part of 2009. The storm destroyed almost all of the government-installed latrines, and badly damaged 300 toilets supported by Water For People.

Water For People builds on community

Water for People–India has been building water-related partnerships and community for more than 13 years. Using these well-established connections, the staff quickly organized water purification and re-hydration kits. With four feet of water still standing in the villages, Water For People program and school coordinators met with partners and local government representatives. When the water receded and Water For People staff entered the villages, they were greeted by an enthusiastic welcoming party. The villagers stood on the embankments, waving, weeping, and embracing.

"We were treated like friends—companions—true well-wishers who would not distribute token relief and disappear, but guide the people in how to cope," said Jyotirmoy Chakraborti, Water For People–India field program coordinator. The villagers expressed gratitude for Water For People’s initiative in promoting water committees and training local youth as Jalabandhus, highly trained mechanics who repair/maintain water sources.

Water For People-trained Jalabandhus assisted in disinfecting 295 water sources, 47 of which were Water For People’s. They pumped out 15 ponds that had filled with seawater, and constructed eight rainwater harvesting structures and seven community toilets to serve displaced families.

Requests for collaborative efforts Save the Children, West Bengal, requested help in disinfecting 30-40 affected water sources in Sandeshkali I and II Blocks in South Parganas District. After conducting an initial survey, Water For People staff helped draw up an action plan that included organizing a team of mechanics to do the work.

GOAL Ireland plans to support establishing 21 new water sources in the Aila affected regions, 16 of them to be installed in villages where Water For People operates. Primarily, Water For People’s support will involve designing the action plans, providing technical guidance and partner monitoring. Water For People will also provide technical support and repair of water sources in the nearby Mousumi Block.

The capacity for community

One of the key lessons Water For People learned from Aila was to continue to do what it does best: promote systems and structures that give the community the strength to deal with the worst.

While other communities struggled to mobilize help after the cyclone and suffered outbreaks of diarrhea, the Water For People water committees swung into action. The Jalabandhus acted rapidly to get their water sources functional first. The neighboring local governments recognized the work and commissioned the Jalabandhus to assess and repair water sources in other locations.

When asked why their water sources had fared better than others, villagers where Water For People has worked were clear, "Our committees are our strength. We are used to working together to maintain our water source. We had skilled personnel who knew what needed to be done. We also chose our tubewell sites well—they were all on high land, they had platforms and shade, we used the best materials, and they were regularly maintained."

And Rajashi Mukherjee, Water For People–India country coordinator, summed it up by saying, "I believe our commitment to guide and support the building of capacity through community is what we do best. It’s what helped give these villages the strength to begin rebuilding so quickly. And no matter what happens in the future, they will have that strength to rely on."

To read more Aila updates go to: www.waterforpeople.org/aila

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