ROTARY WASH PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION STUDY
ROTARY WASH PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION STUDY – CLUBS, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
Rotary has made significant investments in water infrastructure across the world. As of 2012, the Rotary Foundation reported investments totaling approximately $5 million in Honduras alone. Over 90 Rotary-sponsored water systems have been built to date in this country. The level of functionality of these water systems post-construction is unknown.The Desert Research Institute (DRI) proposes to conduct an assessment of 40 Rotary-sponsored water systems in Honduras. The projected cost of this assessment is approximately $40,000. As of May 9, DRI has obtained pledges of $10,000 from WASRAG, $3000 from Rotary District Clubs in Honduras, $3,000 from the Reno Rotary Club and ~$9000 in support from various clubs around the U.S. and Canada.
The Assessment
The proposed assessment will serve as an evaluation pilot to help determine the current functionality and potential sustainability of water systems and provide recommendations to both local water committees managing these systems and to Rotary Clubs. DRI will work with local Rotary Clubs to select about 40 sample projects that are representative of different local conditions and objectives, e.g. peri-urban, rural, subsistence farming community, drilled well, shallow well improvement, family based solutions, community system, sanitation solutions etc. DRI has developed an assessment tool which will be used to evaluate the WASH systems’ water quality, disinfection methodology; identify challenges faced by water committees and operators; and include an inspection of the system from source to end-user.
Partners
The assessment will be completed with help from a local Honduran partner, AHJASA (Honduran Association of Water System Administrators). AHJASA will provide skilled technicians, who will be managed and trained in the assessment tools by DRI staff. The skilled technician will conduct on-site assessments of the water system and its operating structures. Volunteer Rotarians will be essential in providing the introduction to the communities and helping with data collection activities.
Expected Outcome
Based on this initial assessment, DRI will improve on the existing assessment tool and scale-up the evaluation to all Rotary-sponsored water systems in the region and other parts of the world. The recommendations and action plans that result from these assessments will provide Rotary Clubs and water committees with strategies to resolve problems/repair of their water systems, improve and increase community access to the system, and better their existing operating procedures and ensure the long-term sustainability of their water systems. These assessments will be the first step in assisting Rotary to create a Support System for Community WASH Programs and develop sustainable projects in the future.
Champion and Request for Support
Steve Werner, John Hendrick and Bruce Halloran will serve as champions for this project and a donation of $500 to $1000 is requested. Supporting clubs will receive a report that can be used as a guide for how future WASH projects can be developed, implemented and evaluated.