iDrate Project - Water Points that Work in Malawi

Raise the capacity of District Government Councils in Malawi to effectively plan, coordinate and regulate other stakeholders and execute plans to improve water point functionality and equitable distribution, as well as creating and documenting more effective models for water supply management.

Of the 45,000 water points throughout Malawi, 30% of them are not functioning at any given time, and an additional 10% are redundantly sited, meaning some communities have many water points while others have none. In 2010, Malawi would have already achieved its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for water access of over 80% if these water points were consistently functional and were better sited, but instead these problems leave Malawi with an access rate of approximately 50%. While more investment in water supply is needed, it is clear that more efficient investment will be the key to sustainable and equitable water supply services to achieve this MDG. By 2015, this project aims to cut the number of non-functional and redundantly sited water points by 50% and to ensure water point functionality rates consistently and sustainably above by 90%.

Despite decentralisation, the low capacity of local governments, as well as a lack of appreciation of this problem by some donors means that it is extremely difficult for local governments to deliver the services that they are supposed to. This project works with District Government Councils in Malawi to build their skills and improve their ways of working. It includes activities to update water supply monitoring information and to assist District staff to make decisions based on evidence of field realities. A three-phase process is used, whereby there is a participatory capacity assessment, the development of user-centred solutions with districts and the execution of solutions through project staff.

The project is also piloting several different approaches to the management of rural water points, including area mechanics networks and support to the supply chains for spare parts

The budget for this five-year project is CHF 1,000,000.

This project will be implemented by Engineers without Borders, Canada who are collaborating with Central Government, District Government Councils and NGOs in Malawi.

By 2015, this project aims to cut the number of non-functional and redundantly sited water points by 50% and to ensure water point functionality rates consistently and sustainably above by 90%.