Inter Aide, Malawi
Water and Sanitation
In Malawi, 40% of the rural families do not
have access to safe water. Less than 10% of families are equipped
with improved sanitation facilities and diarrhoeal diseases
contribute to about 20% of the death among under-five children.
Inter Aide is intended to replicate the successful Zomba District
programme to the Phalombe District which is excluded from the large
current projects of construction of water supply and sanitary
infrastructures of the Malawi Government.
Housing 320 000 inhabitants, Phalombe District
presents a very high density of population for a rural zone (225
inh/km²) leading to vulnerability and high underdevelopment of the
communities. The access to drinking water is very limited, reaching
an average of only 45%.
The project main purpose is to give people
access to safe water and basic sanitation.
It will improve the health and sanitary living
conditions through 3 different activities:
- Durably improve the
hygiene practices at family level:
6 000 persons will attend participatory
workshops in the villages.
- Support the
communities for the construction or rehabilitation of protected
water-points and family latrines:
68 protected water points
will be built or rehabilitated, supplying 17 000 direct
beneficiaries. 5 700 family latrines will be built (for 28 500
people).
- Strengthen capacities
of village committees and set up a network of maintenance services
based on local repairmen and spare-parts retailers (Participatory
methods):
68 Village Health Committees
will be trained on pump maintenance and will be able to diagnose
and repair simple breakdowns on the pump. 680 committee members (10
persons per committee) will reinforce their capacities to carry out
development actions in their community. Pump spare-parts retailers
and skilled Area Mechanics will propose maintenance services to the
rural communities of the targeted area (375 000 potential users)
200 protected-water points will be repaired by the Area Mechanics,
providing safe water to 50 000 persons.
Training and awareness campaigns will be held
before building any facilities so that people know how to use them
efficiently.The participatory approach will make the learning
process easier and sustainable. The beneficiaries will be fully
aware of the links between health, environment and daily behaviours
that is the key point to adopt durable improved practices.