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TitleCommunity mobilization in sanitation projects : a case study of Maina village
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication1994
AuthorsKariuki, M, Kinuthia, C, Kunguru, J
Secondary TitleCase study series / Regional Water and Sanitation Group Eastern and Southern Africa
Volumeno. 2-1
Paginationv, 46 p.: 1 box, 2 maps, 4 photogr., 3 tab.
Date Published1994-01-01
PublisherUNDP-World Bank, Regional Water and Sanitation Group Eastern and Southern Africa
Place PublishedNairobi, Kenya
Keywordscase studies, health education, kenya, kenya maina village, participatory methods, projects, rural areas, sanitation
Abstract

This case study examines the implementation of Danidafunded sanitation projects in Maina village, an informal settlement near Nyahururu town in Central Kenya established in 1965. Originally 20year leases were granted to the mostly male migrant workers who settled there and Maina retained its
"informal" status with no development of infrastructure or services until 1985. The Danida Sewage House Connection Project brought a sewer line, plot connections, onsite sanitation, lowcost roads, storm drains and a communitybased solid waste collection system through work beginning in Maina in 1988.
The project was commissioned in 1985 but delays developed due to disagreement between the project and the municipality regarding the plan and because a lack of community involvement in project planning created apprehension and resistance to planned activities. A midterm review undertaken in 1989 suggested ways of alleviating fears and enhancing community participation including: creating a communitybased site committee later expanded to include community representatives, involving community services and health extension workers more closely, and contracting an NGO Kenya Water for Health (KWAHO) to carry out community mobilization activities.
A second review in 1991 noted substantial progress in project implementation. In addition to physical achievements, the community, with KWAHO support, had agreed to provide the project with physical and material inputs and to participate in maintenance and management of facilities. KWAHO also helped to ensure that construction paralleled the community's capacity to absorb the proposed developments and that the developing infrastructure would provide maximum benefits to the community.
One of KWAHO's aims is to enhance project beneficiaries' self reliance and confidence through community participation in project identification, planning, implementation and maintenance. In Maina village, KWAHO's role was to mobilize the community and train villagers in the importance of health and management of solid waste. Its specific goals were to identify the role and responsibilities of the community in project implementation and management, to facilitate community mobilization, to help coordinate the physical development of the project, and to build an organizational structure at the community level to ensure sustained utilization of the infrastructure. To fulfil these responsibilities, KWAHO, needing an understanding of the social organization of Maina village, noted that the majority of community groups were women's groups who would therefore be the main driving force if project activities were to be implemented in a sustainable way. KWAHO held meetings to inform the community about the project's goals and residents' role in project implementation and played a liaison role in communicating the community's views to the project team, steering and site committees.
Several community women's groups played an instrumental role in the project, and KWAHO played a key role in forming, strengthening and involving key groups in the project. The Village Health Committee (VHC) formed in 1985 was the first linkage between the project implementation team and the community. The VHC, with other women's groups, worked throughout the project motivating the community to improve hygiene practices, reporting malnourished cases to nutrition workers, and initiating dialogue to convince unresponsive community members of the importance of sanitation services. The Kihato Women's Group, a coalition of 12 village women's groups involved in health activities, mobilized villagers in village cleaning activities and assisted members financially through incomegenerating activities. It also educated members on the importance of a clean environment and constructed a Posho Mill as an incomegenerating activity to improve the group's standard of living. The Mugi SelfHelp Group, composed of men and women, assisted the Kihato Women's Group in village cleaning projects, conducting home visits to educate villagers and identifying the sick and taking them to hospital.
Community mobilization, although not initially planned, played an important role in ensuring successful implementation of the project and it was felt that more effective community participation earlier in the project would have avoided delays in implementation. Some lessons learned from the project include: an integrated approach to project planning gives better results and ensures sustainability; raising a community's awareness and incorporating its views, ideas and knowledge in project design significantly increases commitment, sense of ownership, and sustainability; and training and health education are important elements of sanitation projects.

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