AN ASSESSMENT ON THE IMPACTS OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT IN ETHIOPIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO IRC INTERVENTION IN ASSOSA WOREDA OF BENISHANGUL GUMUZ REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

Provisions of potable water supply and sanitation services have a significant contribution on the improvement of the lives’ of the people. Projects involved in water and sanitation will have a paramount contribution in the development of rural community. Water and sanitation project, in addition to addressing their direct benefits in providing adequate water supply and sanitation services, has an impact on the health, education, women work load, production and productivity, etc of the rural community. This study has given emphasis the impacts produced as a result of rural water supply and sanitation project implemented by an International rescue Committee (IRC), an international NGO. The main objective of this study paper was to assess the impact of the project on the target communities. The study was conducted in three project target Kebeles of Assosa woreda of Benishangul Gumuze regional state of Ethiopia. In the study Kebeles the main sources of drinking water was mainly from natural sources like; rivers, ponds, unprotected springs, open HDW and few SWs with hand pumps. The majority of the HPs existed before the project interventions were broken or none functional. As a result, the community was suffering to fetch water from far distances, affected by different water born and sanitation related diseases. Moreover, female in the HH as the main responsible for water fetching were highly work loaded. In this study a survey has been conducted in 13 villages in the three target Kebeles, which includes 64 HHs as basic respondents and about 36 cases of key informant interviews, focus group discussion and questionnaires were managed in the process of data collection on the several aspects of the project. Findings of the study showed that the impact of the project was significant in providing potable water with accessible distance, good quality and quantity to the rural community. The activities on the sanitation and hygiene promotion also contributed a lot in reducing diseases in the area. The project has produced tangible impacts on the lives of the community. As a result of having

the access to potable water supply and improved sanitation and hygiene, the community able to get the economic, social and environmental impacts. Some of the impacts include; water is accessible and quality, time is saved, health of the community and work power improved. Improvement in work power directly or indirectly contributed in increasing production and productivity that has part in attaining food security of the community. As the health of the community improved medical expenditure has reduced. The project helped to reduce work load on women and girls as they are the main responsible for water collection and sanitation in the community and hence women can have time for other economic activities and to attempt social commitments and responsibilities. Girls can attend their education. Defecating in the sheltered and clean latrines has psychologically benefited to the community as it keeps privacy instead of outside defecation which was frustrating when people are passing around while in open defecation. The other impact observed was environmental impact; the project helped to reduce water sources contaminations, helped to have clean spaces where children or elderly can play or talk safe and the breeding of insects reduced, and health situation is improved in the area. With these all impacts obtained as the result of the intervention, the question of sustainability is still in question. Some of the new water structures have problem with their handle within this short time of project completion. The ownership level of the community looks small as they are not seeking a solution by themselves for small maintenance problems. The mobilization and awareness creation to the community should also not be limited to the project period only but also should be a continuous process in the target kebeles. If the project outcomes and attributes to be sustainably produce an impact on the lives’ of community, the responsible government bodies especially the Woreda water and health offices have to work jointly to keep the good start to continue long lasting.