Water & Sanitation Development Facility - North

Location:Small Towns and Rural Growth Centers in 16 fistricts of Apac, Lira, Dokolo, Amolatar, Oyam, Amuru, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Arua and Nebbi

Planned Expenditure: UGX 45.0 bn

Background

After a long period of over 20 years of war in northern Uganda, peace has finally started prevailing in northern Uganda in Lango, Acholi and West Nile sub-regions. Due to the prevailing peace, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are returning to their original villages/homes which lack adequate water supply and sanitation facilities. There is need therefore to provide safe water and sanitation facilities targeting the high density settlements in the sub-regions of northern Uganda that were greatly affected by the war. The WSDF – N has therefore been specifically established to support the development of piped water supply and sanitation facilities in the north with a focus on small towns which are usually the district headquarters and rural growth centres. These STs/RGCs represent potentially growing centres in agriculturally productive regions. They also represent areas of increasingly growing population in the country.

The districts in northern Uganda that will be served by the programme are Apac, Lira, Dokolo, Amolatar, Oyam, Amuru, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Arua and Nebbi. All small towns and rural growth centres from these districts will be eligible for funding based on a demand-driven, participatory and transparent identification procedure

The Water and Sanitation Development Facility – North (WSDF-N) is a project funded under the Joint Water and Sanitation Sector Programme Support (JWSSPS); which is being funded by a joint contribution of Development Partners and Government of Uganda.

Project Objectives

To improve the socio-economic situation and the opportunities for people living in Small Towns/Rural Growth Centres targeted

To improve general health conditions through the reduction of water borne diseases in the targeted Small Towns/Rural Growth Centres

Empower communities in the targeted Small Towns/Rural Growth Centres and enable them to participate in national development
To contribute to environmental protection through resources protection and the use of appropriate technologies in water and sanitation interventions
To ensure that the gender issue is addressed in such a way that women are empowered and both sexes are involved as decision makers.
To enable a targeted number of 45 Small Towns /Rural Growth Centres communities (about 225,000 people) to access affordable, safe and adequate water supply and sanitation services sustained by effective utility management arrangements.
Full basic sanitation coverage (at least a pit latrine for each homestead) in the 45 targeted small towns and rural growth centres, including EcoSan demonstration utilities and replication skills as well as public facilities in each centre.

Performance Indicators

Technical design reports for water supply systems completed,

No. of water supply systems satisfactorily functioning,

Capacity Building and Training reports.

Technical Description

The project is primarily focusing on provision of water supply and sanitation infrastructure for the Small Towns and Rural Growth Centres in the targeted districts addressing the poor in this region.

The project will involve detailed engineering designs and construction of water supply infrastructure systems and basic sanitation facilities in the Small Towns and Rural Growth Centers in the Districts of Apac, Lira, Dokolo, Amolatar, Oyam, Amuru, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Arua and Nebbi

The project will also involve training towards community participation and support for improved water and sanitation services as well as hygiene and sanitation promotion, and public health education.

Project components

Water Supply Works,
Sanitation facilities,
Community Mobilization and Public Health Education,
Institutional Support and Project Management,
Engineering Consultancy Services.

Scope of Works

The WSDF-N project will execute water supply and sanitation infrastructure works comprising of new investments, rehabilitation works and major extensions including a comprehensive "software" programme. In addition, the related consultancy services for technical studies and construction supervision will be procured.

Expected Outputs

A total 16 Implementation MoUs signed with the districts of Apac, Lira, Dokolo, Amolatar, Oyam, Amuru, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Arua and Nebbi. Construction works in 45 identified RGCs of in the districts above completed with fully operational water supplies

Implementation Arrangements

Implementation arrangement for the WSDF-N will be guided by four principles:

The organizational roles and responsibilities will be mainstreamed in the existing structures at all levels.

Implementation will be de-centralized in line with Government's general policy.

Implementation will be predominantly community based.

Private sector participation will be maximized.

Instead of the traditional project implementation mode, the WSDF-N has been developed as a funding instrument for water and sanitation infrastructure. Communities will have the possibility to apply for water and sanitation infrastructure investment support at the facility. Hence, the WSDF-N branch office that is being established in Lira town will be close enough to the beneficiary communities in northern Uganda to facilitate them to seek funding support for the development of their water supply and sanitation infrastructure.

The total duration of the WSDF-N will adopt an annual call rhythm for applications for funding and five implementation steps will be executed as follows:

Step 1: Submission, verification, evaluation, ranking and short listing of applications

Step 2: Mobilization, baseline surveys, source identification,topographic surveys, technical design, Environmental Impact Assessment, preparation of tender documents

Step 3: Fulfillment of community obligations - Land acquisition and cash contributions

Step 4: Construction works and constructions supervision, fulfillment of sanitation requirements and as soon as community commitments are made and on first come basis

Step 5: Test running phase, handover and commissioning

Step 4: starts as soon as the community commitments (Step 3)

Implementation will therefore vary. Depending on the experiences gained from the first call (and on possible additional funding), more districts may be included if appropriate. The types of activities to be funded include water supply infrastructure (new investments, rehabilitation, and major extensions, including a comprehensive "software" programme), sanitation as well as the procurement of related institutional and technical studies.

After step 5, further O&M support will possibly be provided by a regional Umbrella Organization.

The WSDF-N team is expected to do more of contract management and support to districts, and less of engineering and concrete "software" activities.