This document discusses the importance of involving community leaders in water system projects from start to finish to ensure project success and long-term sustainability. It emphasizes that community leaders must be involved in the planning, design, construction, and post-construction operation and maintenance requirements of any project for their approval and support. Only with involvement and buy-in from the highest community leadership levels can a project expect to address the true priority needs of the community and remain viable over its lifetime.

1. ENOCK KAWEESI
COUNTRY COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAIR
ROTARACT UGANDA
D9211
ROTARACTCOMMUNITY
SERVICE
TRAINING
15TH.AUGUST.2015
CENTENARYPARK
CHINESERESTAURANT

2. A safe and reliable drinking water and access to
adequate sanitation is not available to nearly one billion
people. Rotary International recognized this problem
and has made it one of the six areas of focus.
Bringing safe and reliable drinking water to the
community has been a challenge to Rotaract clubs. High
level of failures can be attributed to many factors,
including: Rotaract Community
Service Training

3. » Selection of inappropriate technologies
» The Myth: “Just built it and it will work forever.”
» Poor water point sitting
» Lack of on-going operations and maintenance
training
» Lack of spare parts
» Poor or changing water quality
» Vandalism, theft or conflict
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Service Training

4.  Lack of finance for operations and maintenance
 Ineffective community water committees
 Weak follow-up and project supervision by
project sponsors
 No long-term project monitoring and evaluation
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Service Training

5. With over million people without safe drinking water
and adequate sanitation facilities, the challenge of
providing everyone with safe drinking water and
proper sanitation is daunting. With over 69 Rotaract
clubs in Uganda, the number of projects that would be
required to make a difference will require all of the
Rotaractors to work together with partner
organizations and village leaders.
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Planning For Sustainability

6. This will demonstrate the importance of doing each
project right and ensuring that they continue to provide
the services intended for the design life of the facility.
The goal is that Rotaractors plan, design and
complete water and sanitation projects that remain
functional and that are maintained by the village water
committees throughout their intended lives.
Rotaract Community
Service Training

7. SUSTAINABLE means “Meeting the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs.” Critical to creating
sustainable projects is that Rotaract clubs integrate
their local project into a regional planning, involving
the village leaders.
The following steps are designed to help Rotaract
clubs achieve sustainable projects:
Rotaract Community
Service Training

8. 1. Ensuring community ownership and to demonstrate
self-sufficiency in operation;
2. Focusing on needs, the current state of the
community, the desired future (such as access to
clean water year-round and reduction in water-borne
diseases) and an assessment of technical,
socio/cultural and financial risks affecting the likely
long-term viability of the project;
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Service Training

9. 3. Involving women in the initial design of the
system and in ensuring that the system is
maintained and associated hygiene and
behavioral changes take place;
4. Choosing appropriate technologies are installed
and operational support is available, and
5. Focusing on the overall community goals of a
healthy and economically stable future is planned
for. Rotaract Community
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10. 1. Formation of a Country Regional Team or Water
Committee;
2. Develop a Program Planning and Performance Team
(PPP, also known as Rotary Service Corps) that
assists the Regional Team and village leaders in
completing a needs assessment and conduct an
Alternative Analysis of the best technical and
operational solution;
3. Use of the Wasrag Technical GuidelinesRotaract Community
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Approach of the Country and District Officials

11. Rotaract Community
Service Training

12. Rotaract Community
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13. 1. Is the project being funded by more than one Rotaract
club?
2. Do Rotaract club members have the professional
expertise to plan and design a water project and the
ancillary needs of sanitation and health and hygiene?
3. Who in your Rotaract club will manage the planning
Rotaract Community
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Checklist Water Project Construction

14. 4. Does the club have sufficient number of club
members to travel to the project site and complete the
project?
5. If more than one club is participating in the project,
what are the roles for each club?
6. If the club(s) does not have the expertise to plan,
design or construct the project, who will be called
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15. a. What role in the project do you expect them to
participate?
b. What are their credentials for fulfilling their role in the
project?
c. Has the NGO working this country or region within the
country before?
d. Who will be the contact from the NGO?Rotaract Community
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16. a. Does he have references for doing quality work on
similar projects?
b. Does he have the right equipment to complete the
project on budget and schedule?
c. Is he available at the time your team will be available
to travel to the project site?
Rotaract Community Service TrainingRotaract Community
Service Training

17. 9. What action will designate the completion of the
project?
10. What steps will be to take place to close out the
project?
Establish the community water committee; Close out
NGO contracts; Pay contractors; Train operation and
maintenance; Establish long-term evaluation and
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18. Rotaract Community
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19. • The involvement of community leaders in the water system project cannot
be overstated. Whether the sponsoring Rotary club or its partners are
dealing with a tribal chief, another Rotary club, or a community
government, involvement and approval from the highest level is vital to
the success of the project. The leaders must first be involved in the
planning of the project to be sure they agree that the selected project is
the highest priority need of the community.
• Community leaders must also be involved in the design and construction
phases of the project so that the project location, methods of construction
and materials of construction are familiar to them and approved as a long-
term solution to their problem.
• Finally, and perhaps most important, the leaders must be aware of and
approve the long-term operation and maintenance requirements,
including cost of the improvement and the collection of tariffs to pay for
on-going repairs and maintenance. Only with this high level involvement
and approval can any project expect to succeed and remain viable over its
projected life.
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How Vital is the Community Leader
Involvment?

20. Rotaract Community
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