Sustainable WASH in Fragile ConTexts (SWIFT)
Background
The Oxfam-Tearfund Consortium was awarded a Contract under the DFID-funded WASH Results Programme (WRP). Africa AHEAD is an Implementing Partner within this Consortium. DFID has demanded that specific emphasis be given to issues around Sustainability & Value for Money (VfM) for each of the various WASH components of this intervention. As such, careful consideration has been given to ensure effective Monitoring and Evaluation. This is being undertaken by ODI who will continue for an additional 27 months after the December 2015 cut-off date for programme implementation activities. ODI will therefor monitor the Outcomes and assess VfM and sustainability aspects of this ‘payment-by-results’ form of contract until March 2018.
Under this Consortium Contract, the Community Health Club (CHC) approach for achieving sustainable hygiene behaviour change and holistic development is going to be piloted in DRC. ODI has been tasked to tease out the differences between the more entrenched Village Assaini (VA) and CLTS models and compare these with what the CHC model has to offer in terms of sustainable hygiene behaviour change, VfM and effectiveness. In fact ODI will be measuring five dimensions of sustainability: Functional, Institutional, Environmental, Financial and Equity.
Field Trip and Workshop in Rwanda
Tearfund staff fr DRC conducted a Look & Learn tour to inspect the recently started CHC programme that AA and MoH have been implementing in Rusizi district (across the border from Bukavu) since late February 2014. This tour will took place on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May. Tearfund sponsored a team of fifteen people to inspect different villages. The Tearfund team was accompanied by AA staff as well as MoH and District Officials from Rusizi.
A three-day Workshop took place from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th May at Peace Guest House in Kamembe (Rusizi district) including senior Tearfund managers.
DRC delegation was visibly impressed with the CHC approach and were keen to replicate some of the ideas in DRC. However, they have been unable to convince senior government figures in Kinshasha to integrate CHC into the Village Assaigne Programme. As a result the project is now stalled pending the signing of an MoU between AA and Tearfund. It has now been agreed to start CHCs in peri-urban areas which will not clash with the existing Village Assaigne programme. However this is a much compromised involvement and may undermine the reputation of the CHC Model if it is poorly executed, with minimal resource allocation.