Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sectoral Strategic ... · PDF fileSSG : Sectoral ... Rural...

His Majesty's Government

Ministry of Physical Planning and WorksSinghadurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal

Rural Water Supply and SanitationSectoral Strategic Action Plan 2004

(Unofficial Translation)


(Unofficial Translation)

January 12,2004

His Majesty's GovernmentMinistry of Physical Planning and Works

(Water Supply and Sanitation Division)Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 4226051; 4228931; 4227732Fax: 4228420

Lo : ZO-2.3

Acronyms

1. CBO : Community Based Organisation2. DDC : District Development Committee3. DWSS : Department of Water Supply and Sewerage4. HJF : Hygiene Improvement Framework5. HMG : His Majesty's Government6. M at E : Monitoring and Evaluation7. MLD : Ministry of Local Development

8. MOF : Minister of Finance9. MOH : Minister of Health10. MOPE : Ministry of Population and Environment11. MPPW : Ministry of Physical Planning and Works12. MWR : Ministry of Water Resources0 . NGO : Non-Governmental Organisation14. NPC : National Planning Commission15. PSO : Private Sector Organisation16. SSG : Sectoral Stakeholder Group17. UNICEF : United Nations Children's Fund18. VDC : Village Development Committee19. V M W : Village Maintenance Worker20. WUSC : Water User and Sanitation Committee

1. Introduction

Sectoral Strategy (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation NationalStrategy 2004) and sectoral strategic action plan (Rural WaterSupply and Sanitation Sectoral Strategic Action Plan 2004)have been prepared in Nepal on the basis of the cost estimateevaluation required for meeting the rural drinking water andsanitation services according to the targets set in the Tenth Plan(2002- 2007). The present overall economic situation of thecountry and the need to providing economic incentives to therural water supply and sanitation services necessitates theformulation of such strategy and action plan.

On the basis of the sectoral experiences and keeping in view theavailable service delivery mechanisms, the sectoral strategicaction plan proposes a supreme institutional mechanism, whichclearly defines the need for reforms in the effective servicedelivery of rural water supply and sanitation services andfacilities as well as the role of the major stakeholders involved init. It also specifically addresses the involvement of women,effective mobilization of backward castes and ethnic groups andpoverty reduction strategy. The major components of thisAction Plan are:

• Institutional and functional structure of the whole sectorincluding policy formulation, drafting and implementation,operation, repair and maintenance as well as supervisionand evaluation of the plan and budget.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sectoral Strategic Action Plan 2004 1

• Selection of the project area (site) and availability ofdrinking water and sanitation services.

• Suitable and cost-effective technological options.

• Increase in participation on the basis of gender, variousraces and backward ethnic communities.

• Changes in health; hygiene and sanitation behaviour.

• Financial aspects.

• Legal aspects and

• Environmental aspects.

This Action Plan has identified sustainable institutional structures(bases) for the supervision and evaluation of (its activities)through effecting co- ordination with the efforts of majorsectoral stakeholders of water supply and sanitation areas. Suchstructures (bases) expand the role of non-governmentalorganisations (NGOs) and the private sector organisations(PSOs) for facilitating sectoral development efforts. Selectioncriteria for districts and projects have also been set (preparedand fixed). These criteria will guide His Majesty's Government(HMG) to provide limited means and resources to those, whoreally need such resources for formulating plans on the basis ofthe prioritization guidelines.


The present Action Plan is guided by the principles set bysectoral strategies. The aim of the Action Plan is to perform thefollowing tasks:

• Link the function of rural water supply and sanitationservice delivery with the decentralization strategy ofthe government.

• Reduce the difficulties caused by the duplication atthe implementation level and eliminate theineffectiveness resulting from the overlappingimplementational accountability.

• Make optimum utilisation of all the available trainedhuman resources.

• Make project site selection criteria reasonable.

• Ensure demand registration through full communityparticipation and availability of water supply throughjoint- financial co-operation.

• Select suitable and cost- effective technologies,standardise the structures and to ensure high standardof quality control.

• Include existing old and obsolete (out of use) projectsfor rehabilitation as per necessity.

• Ensure effective operation, repair and maintenance ofprojects.


• Maximise benefits from health services.

• Control corruption and misappropriation of funds.

• Direct future sectoral development on the basis of thelessons learnt in the past.

The sectoral strategy mentions that, principally, all theimportant institutional stakeholders should play a leading role inthe field of rural water supply and sanitation. The majorstakeholders and their roles are presented as under:

• The main role of National Planning Commission(NPC) is to incorporate sectoral plans incomprehensive national development process fororientating it towards national development targetsand to monitor its progress.

• The main role of Ministry of Finance (MOF) is toallocate budget, release it and monitor its expenditurefor achieving national development targets.

• The main role of Ministry of Physical Planning andWorks (MPPW) is to formulate sectoral policy andplan and to monitor them.

• The main role of Department of Water Supply andSewerage (DWSS) is to provide technical support inthe rural water supply and sanitation sector.


The main role of Ministry of Local Development(MLD) is to assist in the overall development works ofthe districts and villages by providing technical skills inline with the process of decentralization.

The main role of District Development Committee(DDC) in rural water supply and sanitation sector isthe formulation and management of district level plans(through district periodic development plans) and toco-ordinate with other sectoral activities.

The main role of Water Supply and Sewerage DivisionOffice is to support in the implementation of watersupply and sanitation projects in the absence of theWater Supply and Sewerage offices in the district orsuch unit/office has not been created within DistrictDevelopment Committees.

The main role of Village Development Committee(VDC) in rural water supply and sanitation sector is toenhance coordination at the community level.

Since the communities represented by water user andsanitation committees (WUSCs) are the greatestbeneficiaries of water supply and sanitation facilitiesthey will confer benefits on the community throughtheir participation in plan formulation (by availing theco-operation of supporting institutions), construction,management and operation, repair and maintenanceof such facilities. It is the duty of the user to operate


and maintain the water supply system with fullresponsibilities to derive full benefits out of thesystem.

• The main responsibility of NGOs and CBOs is to assistthe community in the formulation and implementationof projects and to manage funds relating to suchprogrammes themselves; to experiment and evaluatethe revised implementation processes; to evaluatethem and also to participate in the rural water supplyand sanitation policy formulation on the basis of theseexperiences.

• The main role of PSOs is to provide, as partners,specific types of technical assistance of high standardand quality when such assistance is not possible fromthe government and non- government sectoralorganisations.

2. Institutional Structure

In order to improve the institutional structure of rural watersupply and sanitation sector, based on this action plan, and inkeeping with HMG's commitments to policies relating todecentralization and rural water supply and sanitation services,the sectoral institutions will play their roles in a new way. Inorder to use the resources available in this sector mostefficiently, this Action Plan recognizes the role of the local self-government in rural water supply and sanitation sector, it

Water Supply and Sanitation Sectoral Strategic Action Plan 2004 6

maintains the policy level and plan related role of MPPW as wellas strengthens the facilitating role of DWSS. In addition to this,increased formal participation of NGOs and the activeimplementational role they play in the implementation of ruralwater supply and sanitation projects will help to make thesectoral policy formulation more effective.

3. Availability and Selection of Site

With a view to making the results of the changes envisaged inthe Tenth Plan reach only the targeted population; attention hasbeen focused on the choice of the project site to ensure that theservice delivery coverage of the project is expanded. It isassumed that there will be no politicisation, but such selectionwill be based on people's aspirations and also as per the priorityof the district, if the site/ project selection is made on the basisof set criteria of site selection. The objective is the creation of atransparent, reasonable and easily adaptable process foraddressing more effectively both types of needs like newconstruction works and reconstruction work. It is also to selectthe target project site more carefully (district, village and projectlevel) and to expand the coverage of water supply and sanitationfacilities.

4. Suitable and Cost- Effective TechnologicalOptions

Rural water supply and sanitation sectoral strategy places theresponsibility of rural water supply and sanitation project


formulation and implementation to the communities themselves.The communities should be able to fully assess the differencebetween the technological options (alternatives) of availablewater supply and sanitation services, the service cost, the qualityof drinking water and the advantages of result-oriented healthservices. The under mentioned components have also beenincluded in the activities designed to raise awareness andimprove decision-making capacity at local level.

5. Strengthening Participation Based on Genier,Caste and Deprived Ethnic Community

This Action Plan has prepared a sketch (blueprint) of activitiesdesigned to assist government policies of poverty reduction andincrease opportunities to people living in remote areas andfacing abject poverty, and women and backward sections as wellas to develop ways of providing help to the communities thathave traditionally been deprived of their rights so that they getaccess to rural water supply and sanitation services and ensuretheir equitable participation in plans. These objectives will beachieved through sensitivity and awareness raising trainingsthe inclusion of such groups and through the provision ofsectoral implementation process.

6. Health, Hygiene and Sanitation

Recognizing the need for effective health, hygiene and sanitationneeds to realize the health related advantages resulting fromrural water supply and sanitation facilities, this Action Plan


purports to include behavioral changes relating to environment,health, hygiene and sanitation and, with a view to ensuring thatthe resources required for this purpose are adequate, easilyavailable and are being effectively used, it expands activities tohealth, hygiene and sanitation.

7. Financial Aspects

In order to maximize the achievements from rural water supplyand sanitation activities, effective use of available financialresources and local means and resources should be mobilizedand used for the formation of co-financing mechanism andmonitoring and evaluation. This Action Plan will be focused onensuring that communities get additional aid for consolidatingsectoral monitoring and for implementing new communityconstruction policy.

8. Legal Aspects

This Action Plan is contributory to government commitment todecentralization policy and poverty reduction. The legal aspectof the Action Plan integrates water resource problems and issuesthat give a formal shape to sectoral policies, amendments to thesectoral rules and processes accountable to decentralization andconsolidation of WUSCs.


9. Environmental Aspects

This Action Plan underscores the environmental aspects of alllevels of plans and their implementation and consolidates themaccording to rules and policies to ensure the execution ofdevelopment works.


Role and Responsibilities of Major InstitutionalStakeholders

To maintain the available water supply and sanitation servicesand spell out the institutional aspects in the changed context,the role and responsibilities of the major institutionalstakeholders mentioned earlier will be as follows:

1)NPC will perform the following functions:

i. Review the rural water supply and sanitation policiesdrafted by MPPW and recommend to the CabinetSecretariat for approval of such policies.

ii. Effect co-ordination between the MOF and MPPWwith regard to sectoral investments relating to ruralwater supply and sanitation services.

iii. Include sectoral plans relating to rural water supplyand sanitation in national development plans.

iv. Review the monitoring and evaluation reports onrural water supply and sanitation sector andincorporate the significant achievements in nationalplan formulation process.

v. Take lead in the participatory preparation of thesectoral objectives and targets of long-term ruralwater supply and sanitation. And


vi. Link these objectives and targets with nationalbudget allocation.

2) MOF will perform the following functions:

i. Give a final shape to economic programme andbudget keeping in view the presently availableeconomic resources available at the sectoral level.

i i. Establish a mechanism to assist in the timely releaseof the sectoral budget to the appropriate level oflocal body. And

iii. Sign agreements related to rural water supply andsanitation services with bilateral and multilateraldonors and aid agencies, which are in line withcommunity based decentralization process.

3) MLD will perform the following functions:

i. Assist DDCs to establish branch (unit) offices ofrural water supply and sanitation and to conducttraining and to provide assistance as per theprovisions of Local Self-Government Act.

ii. Act in co-ordination with MPPW to remove theduplication in the functions of District TechnicalOffice and District Water Supply and SewerageDivision Office in order to provide water supply andsanitation services at the community level.


iii. Effect co-ordination at the time of evaluating andmonitoring the sectoral development reports onrural water supply and sanitation and to translate thebest conduct and lessons learnt earlier to determinethe respective functions of MPPW and MLD and thefunction of addressing policy issues. And

iv. Establish effective modalities for investment and co-ordination in rural water supply and sanitation sectorin co-ordination with MPPW and the DDCs.

4) MPPW will perform the following functions:

4.1 Institutional Structure

• Establish and chair a permanent sectoralstakeholder group (SSG) which includesgovernment organisations, NGOs as well as PSOsin order to assist sectoral policy formulation andinformation dissemination.

• Prepare a national rural water supply and sanitationpolicy relating to the service standard andavailability of water supply and sanitation, thechoice of the technology and its use, standardsrelating to the quality of water, change in hygieneand sanitation behaviour, research anddevelopment based on public-private partnership,rural water supply and sanitation reconstruction,human resource development, and monitoring and


evaluation. It is also to make improvement in thepolicy components.

Consolidate the process of data collection,monitoring and evaluation of efforts relating tosectoral activities, their achievements and impacts.

Set up a suitable mechanism in co-ordination withMLD to provide water supply and sanitationservices to all the rural communities while at thesame time expressing support for the points andpolicies of decentralization.

Work in collaboration with MLD to remove thepresent duplication in the functions of DistrictTechnical Office/s and Water Supply andSewerage Division Office/s while implementingrural water supply and sanitation services at thecommunity level. While doing so, special attentionto be paid to the present policy of assigning thetask of providing water supply and sanitationservices to the community with population below1,000 by the district technical office and tocommunities larger than this size by the DWSSthrough Water Supply and Sewerage Divisionoffice/s.

Work in co-ordination with MLD for determiningthe respective roles of MPPW and MLD with aview to initiating suitable working procedures in


the light of the lessons learnt in the past and agreeupon the role of each other with respect to theprogress monitoring and evaluation of the sectoraldevelopment works of rural water supply andsanitation activities.

« Establish effective methods of achieving investmentand coordination of rural water supply andsanitation sectoral agencies operating at the districtlevel or below it and to work in collaboration withMLD and DDCs to achieve it.

• Prepare a national sectoral development plan basedon periodic district development plans. And

• Establish (set up) Water Supply and SanitationMonitoring and Evaluation Branch within MPPW.

4.2 Availability and Selection of Site

• Review the standards used to attract sectoraldevelopment investment from time to time, toreview the concerned sectoral developmentstatistics and to update statistics and to identify thedistricts with additional sectoral needs.

• Provide assistance to MLD in reviewing theproposed district and project selection criteria.And change it according to needs, to get formalapproval of HMG and to encourage the sectoral


stakeholders to include the criteria in theirprogrammes.

• Lead the stakeholders in preparing the policy,action plan and performance indicators to addressthe proposed rural water supply and sanitationrehabilitation policy. And

• Ensure that 20% out of the national budget meantfor rural water supply and sanitation grant of thefund is allocated to the rehabilitation and repair ofthe existing water supply system.

4.3 Suitable and Cost- Effective TechnologicalOptions

• Lead the participatory development of nationalprogramme of water supply quality surveillance,examination and awareness enhancement. And

• Make efforts in formulating national qualitystandard for drinking water and approve it.

4.4 Strengthening Participation Based on Gender,Caste and Deprived Ethnic Community

• Perform the following activities for getting theapproval of HMG for the recurrence of Clause 4.9(Gender Equality and Service Development) ofDrinking Water Policy, 1998:


- To ensure inclusion based on the proportionalrepresentation of different castes and ethnicgroups as well as 50% representation based ongender criteria in the formation of water userand sanitation committees.

- To ensure the necessary contribution of thecommunity to elicit the contribution ofcommunity members with extreme povertykeeping in view poverty based problems likethe payment to 50% unskilled labour below setstandards, physical assistance to constructtoilets and assistance to poor families ofcommunities of remote regions.

- To ensure the implementation of clear andtransparent criteria to identify the families ofthe community with abject poverty.

Develop criteria for the selection of competentNGOs, CBOs and PSOs for mobilizingcommunities on the basis of gender, caste andracially sensitive issues. And

Work in co-operation with MLD to assist men andwomen especially of communities with highincidences of male migration (elsewhere) to ensuretheir access to paid jobs to the extent possiblethrough vocational trainings as well as to


consolidate gender and poverty focusedprogrammes of DDCs.

4.5 Health, Hygiene and Sanitation

• Revise the draft document of 'Sanitation Policy2002' in collaboration with MOH, MOF,UN1CEF and sectoral stakeholders ensuring thefollowing considerations:

- To incorporate health, hygiene and sanitationawareness and reform activities in all watersupply reconstruction projects.

- To establish school hygiene and sanitationsection in line with the sectoral strategy.

- To make provision for school sanitation andhygiene education package in the budgetestimate of the schools in water supply andsanitation project areas, to implement itcompulsorily and to augment the sanitation(quality) of school catchments areas. Likewise,to improve the sanitation habits of children notgoing to school with the help of school goingchildren (child to child method).

- To promote sanitation in the communitythrough non-formal education methods.


• Conduct periodic impact evaluation of health,personal hygiene and sanitation activities andensure the implement of necessaryrecommendations of such evaluation reports.

4 .6 Financial Aspects

• Prepare a common manual for the monitoring ofrural water supply and sanitation sector, tomonitor and evaluate the sectoral workperformance and, to link budget allocation to theresults of programmes to the possible extent.

• Ensure practical administrative efforts to takeinvestment to the lowest strata through the use ofmost efficient method of direct investment flow.And

• Prepare annual reports of projects run by variousprojects and update project unit cost study report.This study should include:

a) The demand cost survey of water supply andsanitation hardware,

b) The unit cost analysis of rural water supplyand sanitation system fixed by differentsectoral organizations (District Water Supplyand Sewerage Division Office, districttechnical office, NGOs, Community Based


Water Supply and Sanitation Project funded

by the Asian Development Bank etc.), and

c) The cost of software aid (such as institutionaltraining, community sanitation and hygieneawareness programme, etc.) to evaluate thecost-effectiveness of various service deliveryorganisations. This will facilitate thecomparison of project unit cost of variousagencies in making future project constructionmore economical.

4.7 Legal Aspects

• Work in co-operation with Ministry of WaterResources (MWR) and other ministries in order toamend existing rules in line with (amenable to)Local Self-Government Act.

» Work in co-operation with MWR to draft atransparent, just and effective manual to resolvedisputes relating to the distribution of drinkingwater and drinking water rights.

• Work In collaboration with other organizations toapprove of national drinking water quality standardand facilitate its implementation.

• Give a final shape to the 'Sanitation Policy, 2002'which has been revised according to sectoral

Rural Water Supply antl Sanitation Sectoral Strategic Action Plan 2004 20

strategy. Also recommend and forward it forapproval.

• Work in collaboration with the MWR, Ministry ofPopulation and Environment (MOPE) and localagencies to prepare and implement a legalstructure for extracting (drawing) and preservingground water.

4.8 Environmental Aspects

• Ensure the adequate consideration (inclusion) ofenvironmental concerns in the national policies andenvironmental manuals related to water supply andsanitation sector. And

• Collect background information on environmentalproblems from all the stakeholders and disseminateit.

5. DWSS will perform the following functions:


» Develop capacity as a facilitator of rural watersupply and sanitation services by providing highquality (safe) rural water supply and sanitationservice.


• Manage an MscE mechanism by developing aparticipatory leadership capability for the MscE ofwater and sanitation facilities.

• Gradually reduce (on phase wise basis) its role indirect implementation, operation and, repair andmaintenance of water supply and sanitationprojects. And

• Provide concrete technical assistance tocommunity and other helpful (support)organizations in formulating and implementingrural water supply and sanitation projects.


• Design district water supply and sanitation profileand help DDCs in preparing such profiles, as far asit is possible, through the appointment ofnecessary technical associate organisations. And

• Prepare a manual in order to provide rural watersupply and sanitation services to public spots,schools, and health posts, army posts, borderpolice posts, government offices etc.



• Develop a suitable and cost- effective rural watersupply and sanitation design manual withtechnological options (alternatives) elaborating onthe advantages and disadvantages, cost, MscE ofprojects constructed for user groups. Suchmaterials will be distributed to DDCs and VDCsafter getting translated into major languages forpropagation.

• Ensure the provision of training in user-orientedcatalogue to organisations, which assist the staff ofDDCs and the villages that select suchtechnologies.

• Assist in the development of techniques(standards) of monitoring external technology andauditing by experts and also monitoring by thecommunity itself.

• Coordinate the programmes relating to the fixationof quality standard to remove arseniccontamination in water with the help of othersectoral stakeholders.



The responsibility of DWSS will be to supervise theunder- mentioned activities in consultation with sectoralstakeholder groups:

• To evaluate the present methods relating tosanitation support and unexpiring fund activitiesand develop manuals that ensure the equitableaccess of deprived men, women and children tolow-cost toilets.

• To develop workshops, seminars and trainingprogrammes in order to increase awareness onprocesses that are based on gender, caste, race andethnicity for participation in rural water supply andsanitation activities. Co-operation of DDCs andVDCs will be sought to mobilise such programmes.

• To run training programmes based on gender,caste, race and ethnicity for running theprogrammes through Central Human ResourceDevelopment Unit (CHRDU) for the staff of watersupply and sanitation sector and for DDCs, VDCsand other organizations of HMG.

• To co-ordinate with other agencies to incorporate

income generating activities within rural water

supply and sanitation projects.


• To search for alternative processes of highlyflexible and cheap water tariff for poor men andwomen.


DWSS will perform the following tasks in co-operation(partnership) with experienced and competent NCOS andPSOs or get it done on contract:

• To get Sanitation Master Plan prepared andimplemented by early 2005 in coordination withother stakeholders.

• To promote, through basic sanitation package,sanitation in projects or communities where watersupply and sanitation projects have beenimplemented or where repair and maintenance hasstarted. The suggestions received from time totime from different levels will be revised at thetime of executing this package and the stakeholderswill be encouraged to implement it.

• To organise seminars annually with theparticipation of DWSS, its offices, stakeholders,NGOs and donor agencies with the intention ofproviding assistance to sanitation programmeformulation, resource mobilization andimplementation through which the experience


relating to knowledge, skill and technology existingamong stakeholders can be shared.

To ensure the implementation of health, hygiene

and sanitation activities in communities and

schools.

To prepare a report on the basis of comparativeanalysis of investments in different projectconstruction hardware and public awarenessenhancement software in different sanitationpromotion projects and ensure that there issufficient budget, if there is insufficient budget inpublic awareness promotion software.

To conduct a National Sanitation Week as acampaign every year at the national level in orderto promote the importance of sanitation atpolitical, policy formulation and implementationlevels and to raise awareness on health, hygieneand sanitation at the people's level.

To disseminate a clear, concise and easilyadaptable community awareness programme andmanual which can create the demand for healthpromotion and sanitation facilities.

To prepare manual on the effectiveness of healthand sanitation evaluation, distribute it tostakeholders and get it implemented.


• To ensure the inclusion of health, hygiene andsanitation activities in ail water supply rehabilitationprojects.

• To develop convenient types of indicators toevaluate the effectiveness of health and sanitationactivities and evaluate at the implementation level.

• To make arrangements rewarding differentindividuals, organizations, VDCs, municipalitiesand DDCs, etc. that make remarkable contributionat different levels in the field of sanitation.

• To discourage the practice of open defecation andencourage the community to develop a model oftotal sanitation in the concerned project andreward best practices.

• To prepare special types of packages, consideringthe usefulness of the manure obtained from eco-san toilets for crops, which is necessary to get itimplemented with stakeholder participation so asto promote sanitation through this technologyamong farmers and economically backwardcommunities,

5.6 Financial Aspects

• Prepare a water tariff manual in consultation withstakeholders for implementation by WUSCs.


Review financial training packages for WUSCsaccountant and persons responsible for recordmanagement and update it.

Assist in the formulation of service manuals forcorttract/negotiations/tenders to avail the servicesof service agencies or cooperating (supporting)organisations by the community at local level oncontract and at district level throughtender/contract related to rural water supply andsanitation construction.

Analyse the project unit cost and the per personcost of beneficiaries for the purpose of makingcomparative analysis.

Ensure during the project period of water supplyprojects, at least 75% of the households willconstruct toilets for which budget allocation at therate of Rs. 1,000/- per household. Out of thisamount 50% will have to be spent on communitycapacity enhancement/ awareness raisingprogrammes and 50% will have to be allocated tothe management of revolving fund for theconstruction of toilets, waste disposal pits andwaste water absorbing pits.

Ensure that Water Supply and Sewerage Division/Subdivision Office/s allocate 10% of the totalannual budget for running sanitation programmes


in places where water supply projects have beencompleted (and ownership transfer has takenplace) or places where water supply projects haverun or in other places.

• See that once sanitation programme based on costestimate, total hardware/ software completionprogramme will be made during the first 3 years,budget will be demanded accordingly and workwill be performed after the budget is sanctioned.The activities included in the work programme andbudget will be taken as guideline forimplementation from the current fiscal year(2003-2004) onward.

5.7 Legal Aspects

• Make review of model constitution and rules inorder to ensure the completion (formation) ofWUSCs and

• Disseminate among sectoral stakeholders thechanged provisions recommended by modelconstitution and rules.


• Prepare (make draft) a manual of environmentalinspection and evaluation for use by District


Technical Office/s Water Supply and SewerageOffice/s and make available to these offices.

6. DDGs will perform the following functions (inco-operation with Water Supply and SanitationOffice/s Water Supply and Sanitation DivisionalOffice/s):


• Take leadership in district level participatory planswith the active participation of the DDC of thearea.

• Develop a mechanism to get groups formallyinvolved in projects in an equitable way on thebasis of gender, caste and ethnicity and get genderawareness improved with the help of trained staff.

• Monitor the performance of the project accordingto the monitoring and evaluation manual and alsomonitor/measure its effects.


• Give priority to probable water supply andsanitation projects in keeping view with thesectoral strategy and established project selectioncriteria of rural water supply and sanitation.


• Include rural water supply and sanitation projectsthat have been selected In the periodic districtplans and are prioritised as per the updated list ofannual district plan.

• Introduce the system of becoming a shareholder inwater supply and sanitation services by establishinga mechanism for all new public buildings.

6.3 Suitable and Cost- Effective Technological

Options

• Assist VDCs and communities in selectingtechnological options (alternatives) at the time ofapplying for projects (at the time of usingtechnological option catalogue).

• Review pre-feasibility study and environmentalaspects through field visits.

• Sign contracts for conducting feasibility study andinclude the evaluation of technical options.


• Select appropriate and competent NGOs/PSOswith the objective of providing assistance toproject implementation in areas like reduction ofilliteracy, ethnic-linguistic prohibition, gender,


caste and ethnically sensitive communitymobilization, training on the formation of WUSCsand management training, etc.

• Propagate a pro-poor assistance manual based onrevised water supply policy in VDCs, NGOs andPSOs.

• Distribute promotion materials (posters/brochures) to VDCs to ensure that thestakeholders have been well informed about thecriteria of available rural water supply services andproject competence.

• Start effective monitoring of WUSCs in theparticipatory self-monitoring system to ensureextreme transparency in all the activities runthrough NGOs/PSOs.


• Ensure that Water Supply and Sewerage Division/Sub-division Office/s allocate 10% of the totalannual budget for running sanitation programmesin places where water supply projects have beencompleted (and ownership transfer has takenplace) or in other places where water supplyprojects have not been run or in projects whichhave been completed as basic sanitation package orin other places.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sectoral Strategic Action Plan 20G4 32

• Ensure that health, hygiene and sanitationprogrammes are being co-ordinated with watersupply and sanitation programmes at theimplementation level so that their timelycompletion can be assured.

• Also sign contract/s with NGOs/PSOs, whichcomplete trainings as part of rural water supplyand sanitation service packages.

• Use the monitoring and evaluation manual toexamine the completion of health, hygiene andsanitation training to evaluate/measure theknowledge as well as the change in the sanitationand hygiene behaviour of men, women andchildren.


• Set up the process of public presentation andpromotion of transparency as well as to ensuretimely allocation of investment for rural watersupply and sanitation -programme.

• Contribute to DDC fund share available for co-investment with rural water supply and sanitationprojects and maintain their records.

• Sign contract/s with NGOs/PSOs to ensure theprovision of sufficient financial training to WUSCs.


• Provide the available co- investment fund for ruralwater supply and sanitation construction works andmaintain records. And

• Ensure the availability of community contribution(cash and kind) before the release of' theconstruction fund.

6.7 LepI Aspects

• Establish a mechanism to ensure the participatorysolution of the possible drinking water disputes (billpayment, service standard, etc.), which may ariseduring and after the completion of the projectthrough the use of manual prepared by the DistrictWater Supply and Sewerage Office/s.

• Prepare a simple and transparent process forregistration of WUSCs and supervise them.

• Assist the community in establishing (forming)WUSCs with the co-operation of NGOs/PSO.And

• Help communities to solve sectoral disputesrelating to water supply.


• Supervise district level review of environmentalinspection/evaluation.


• Include environmental inspection/ evaluation whilecontracting out feasibility study.

7. VDCs will perform the following functions:


• Take the lead of participatory projects at thevillage level with the active participation of NGOs/PSOs/CBOs and WUSCs (if such WUSCs exist).

• Recommend WUSCs to get registered underDistrict Water Resources Committee.

• Supervise the construction work of rural watersupply and sanitation projects.

• Assist WUSCs to collect cash and ensure their kindcontribution, as per the need.

• Establish a construction fund and contribute cashto it. '

• Contribute a specified share of rural water supplyand sanitation construction cost within the district.

• Monitor and evaluate the training of VillageMaintenance Workers (VMWs). And


• Provide assistance to WUSC after construction, tothe extent it is possible to do so, within theresources and prioritization.


• Propose inclusion of its protects in the districtpriority list and plead in its favour and

• Fill up pre-feasibility study checklist together withnotices relating to project selection criterianecessary to present to the DDC with the intentionof placing priority to probable projects out of allthe proposed projects for district developmentprogramme.

7.3 Appropriate and Cost- Effective TechnologicalOptions

• Make provision for the availability of probableinformation relating to resources to evaluate thetechnological options (alternatives).


• Participate in training programmes that promoteawareness based on gender, caste and ethnicity inrural water supply and sanitation and to plan, co-ordinate and monitor gender, caste and ethnically


sensitive community mobilization implementationin an effective way.

• Acquire promotional materials (posters/brochures) prepared for information disseminationon projects of the DDC and to take responsibilityof distributing it in the community, schools, healthposts, etc.


• Assist in identifying the participants to health,hygiene and sanitation trainings (village healthworkers, health post staff, school teachers,community leaders, etc.) and

• Assist in the effective monitoring and evaluation ofhealth, hygiene and sanitation programmes.


• Assist to ensure that community contribution hasbeen made prior to construction for the purposeof construction, monitoring and evaluation.

• Ensure that the capacity of the WUSCs to operatethe fund and bear accountability towards assistanceprovided by NGOS and PSOs is sufficient andmonitor it.


• Contribute available fund share for co-investmentin the project construction and maintain its record.

8. NGOs/PSOs/CBOs will perform the following

functions:


• Provide assistance to VDCs and villages and makeable to work in consultation with the localcommunity to identify their needs and incorporatethem in keeping with the project selection criteriaand the priority of the DDC.

• Take lead in assisting WUSCs with technical,software and all other types of village leveltrainings in the process of implementation of ruralwater supply and sanitation works.

• Conduct sectoral as well as impact evaluation ofrural water supply and sanitation projectimplementation process on a regular basis throughexamination of technical and social inspection inco-operation with the civil society.

• Provide assistance to communities with the help ofDDC to repair existing projects and those to berepaired after construction. And, assist WUSCs toestablish district level and/ or national levelfederations.


• Co-ordinate sectoral stakeholders at the nationallevel as a member of their group to avoidduplication in participation and co-ordinate theprojects and approaches of DDCs/VDCs. And,

• Assist MPPW as well as other policy formulatingagencies in preparing and implementing sectoralmonitoring and evaluation mechanism in aneffective way.


• Assist DDCs in prioritising water supply andsanitation programmes, collecting statistics for theuse of DDCs and preparing or updating the list ofsectoral programmes for the formulation processof District Development Plan/s.

8.3 Suitable and Cost- Effective Technological

Options

• Provide training on the application of the "DesignCatalogue" prepared by the DWSS in order tofacilitate the stakeholders in making an appropriatechoice among the available technological options interms of cost and service availability throughconsultation with all communities directly involvedin the programmes at community level.


• Promote basic drinking water quality inspectionwithin local organizations, schools, VDCs andcommunities through the use of simple way ofapplying "HS strips" and also promote communityawareness on the quality of drinking water.

• Promote awareness on arsenic problems,availability of technology, alternative technologyand appropriate solutions to remove it on a door-to-door basis. And

• Co-operate with sectoral organizations to developand implement quality surveillance of drinkingwater.

8 .4 Strengthening Participation Based on Gender,

Caste and Deprived Ethnic Community

• Ensure that the SSG will assist MPPW in the reviewand revision of rules and regulations for theformation of WUSCs.

• Ensure that the SSG will assist MPPW informulating guidelines for the rural water supplyand sanitation projects on inclusion of gender,caste and ethnicity.

• Provide assistance to the sectoral institutions of thegovernment in promoting the participation of


socially excluded groups and also assist inaddressing gender issues.

• Conduct trainings and workshops to promoteparticipation in rural water supply and sanitationactivities as well as to promote awareness ongender, caste and ethnicity. And

• Make recommendations on methods of effectivelylinking (integrating) rural water supply andsanitation programmes with the existing incomegenerating activities.


• Provide training on health, hygiene and sanitationas per UNICEF programme manual, and assist indiarrhoea reduction programmes in partnershipwith the public sector (e.g., promotion of handwashing practice as public- private partnership).And

• Provide educational services that make (establish)an impact of health, hygiene and sanitationprogrammes.



• Discuss with males and females of the communityabout the capital cost of technological options,cost of monitoring and evaluation and use watertariff manual for deciding on the charges (tariff) ofinitial (basic) drinking water.

• Complete the task of financial evaluation of the

proposed rural water supply and sanitation

facilities.

• Prepare a manual on financial/ accounting/documentation and report preparation for the useof WUSCs and DDCs and provide them necessarytraining/s. And

• Contribute in the preparation of a manual onwater tariff for the use of WUSCs.


• Conduct environmental examination/ assessmentfor internalizing the environmental aspects inplanning and implementation and prepare manualbased on the examination/assessment. And


• Promote environmental awareness amongcommunities and implement environmentalmanagement plans.

9. Gommunities and WUSCs will perform thefollowing functions:

9,1 Availability and Selection of Site

• Identify the needs of the community and request

for their Inclusion in District Development Pfans.

• Take the lead role of construction andimplementation works including the procurementof external technical and managerial support andrural water supply and sanitation facilities madeavailable from concerned (sectoral) aid agencies.

• Assist in speedy (timely) registration of WUSCs asper the existing laws and rules (Water ResourcesAct and Water Supply Regulations) and assist inthe formation of WUSC Federation.

• Prepare, with the assistance of NGOs/PSOs, acommunity action plan that elaborates on the planimplementation phases and the role andresponsibilities of all participants (stakeholders)and agree on such action plan.


• Mate arrangements for the selection and trainingofVMWs.

• Promote interpersonal relationship on the basis ofequity and technically feasible grounds,

• Conduct participatory community basedmonitoring and self- monitoring by the communityitself based on the MscE manual and formallyaccept the ownership of implemented projects.

• Collect data/information and submit report inorder to assist the DDC and facilitate national level


• Provide information on the need-based rural watersupply and sanitation facilities and services on thebasis of willingness to pay and cost-effectivenessand formally agree upon the construction of suchprojects. And

• Ensure that the teams performing, pre-feasibilitystudy, feasibility study and detailed engineeringdesign should fix modalities for community

Rural Water Supply arid Sanitation Sectoral Strategic Action Plan 2004 44

demands, technological options, service areacoverage (ensuring that even the deprived sectionof the society gets access to water supply andsanitation services), water supply reservoir,positioning of public (community) and private tapsand the contribution and assistance in labour andkind.

9.3 Strengthening Participation Based on Gender,

Caste and Deprived Ethnic Community

• Form WUSC as per the guidelines on gender, caste

and ethnic community.

• Ensure the inclusion of (coverage) and addressingto water supply needs of all sections of thecommunity.

• Select male/s and female/s for the provision oftechnical training as VMWs and other masonryworks like toilet construction and provide thempaid jobs. And

• Maintain records of the WUSCs in order to ensurethat there is continued adherence to the principlesrelating to gender, caste and ethnicity (e.g., the


proportional representation of deprived groups intheWUSCs),


• Actively participate in centralised communityschool programmes specifically to promote health/hygiene and sanitation.

• Participate in the periodic and participatoryevaluation programmes on health/ hygiene andsanitation as well as in behaviour changeprogrammes.


• Contribute a minimum of 20 percent of watersupply hardware cost component with at least onepercent as cash and rest as local metrical andlabour contribution.

• Take (bear) responsibility of total cost, operation,maintenance and repair of rural water supply andsanitation facilities and maintain an open register todemonstrate the equitable tariff payments fromwater supply users.


Make 20 percent contribution towards theconstruction cost of institutional latrines (schools,health posts etc.).

Collect one year's operation, repair andmaintenance cost prior to signing contract for theconstruction of water supply project.

Bear additional cost in full, prior to the beginningof project construction, in case the standard ofwater supply and sanitation services to be providedis more than the set standard of the DWSS (i. e.more than 45 l/c/d).

Maintain and regulate a project constructionaccount in cooperation with NGOs/PSOs as co-signatories in providing assistance for theconstruction of the project. Such account can beinspected by:

a) Any member of the community making up-to-date contribution,

b) VDC Chairperson, andc) Accountant of the DDC.

The account for repair and maintenance fundcreated by the WUSCs can be inspected by:

a) Any member bf the community making up-to-date contribution,


b) VDC Chairperson, andc) Accountant of the DDC.

• Provide/contribute after project completion, theamount agreed in the community action plan, on aregular basis.

9.6 Legal Aspects

The communities and WUSCs will perform thefollowing functions:

• Establish WUSCs as per the law. And

• Cooperate/assist the communities in forming/establishing WUSO as deemed necessary by WaterResources Act.


The communities and WUSCs will perform thefollowing functions:

• Comment, participate and contribute throughopen consultation on environmental examination/assessment evaluation that is mandatory for theapproval of the project.


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