—RI News
Dozens of broken hand pumps dot villages in Ghana
as evidence of well-intentioned efforts gone awry
because sustainability wasn’t built into the projects that installed them. School latrines also fail at a high rate, as projects often overlook the fact that they must be emptied periodically.
These are just two of the findings from a recent review of the International H2O Collaboration, a partnership between Rotary
International and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Report findings:
The report praised Rotarians’ expertise, noting that equipment like wells, pumps and water systems have been well designed and meet all technical standards. But it found weaknesses such as:
- Collecting tariffs or user fees is important for long-term success. In many of the projects reviewed, user fees were either not collected or were set too low to provide enough money to replace worn-out equipment and parts. Considering the life cycle of equipment, and having discussions about what costs will be faced and by whom, can help projects avoid failure.
- Implementing projects in an institutional or policy vacuum increases the risk they will simply “fall through the cracks” once the project partners leave. In some communities, no agency was assigned to oversee results.
- The ability and willingness of local agencies to provide long-term follow-up are critical to sustainability. Support is often absent in rural areas. Training local
government staff to manage and administer projects, and improving supply chains and services, can help.