WATER & SANITATIONWATER & SANITATION

The EC Experience in The EC Experience in Somalia & Lessons Somalia & Lessons

LearntLearnt

EU Somalia Operations Unit EU Somalia Operations Unit October 2010October 2010

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BackgroundBackground

• Somalia is a failed state & has no centralized Somalia is a failed state & has no centralized government since 1991government since 1991

• The EC deals de facto with three weak or The EC deals de facto with three weak or ineffective “governments”: Somaliland, Puntland & ineffective “governments”: Somaliland, Puntland & S.Central (TFG)S.Central (TFG)

• All emergency & development activities are All emergency & development activities are financed and executed by the international financed and executed by the international communitycommunity

• There are practically no national policies, laws and There are practically no national policies, laws and regulationsregulations

• Administrative and enforcement capacity is Administrative and enforcement capacity is practically nil.practically nil.

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GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION ON WATER IN SOMALIA ON WATER IN SOMALIA • The 2001 UNDP Human Development Report for The 2001 UNDP Human Development Report for

Somalia estimates that Somalia’s annual renewable Somalia estimates that Somalia’s annual renewable freshwater fell from 2,500m3 per capita per annum in freshwater fell from 2,500m3 per capita per annum in 1950, to 980m3 in 1990, with a prediction of 363m3 by 1950, to 980m3 in 1990, with a prediction of 363m3 by 2025.2025.

• When the per capita water falls below 1,000m3 per When the per capita water falls below 1,000m3 per annum, water scarcity can begin to hamper health, annum, water scarcity can begin to hamper health, economic development, and human well-being. economic development, and human well-being.

• When water availability falls under 500 m3 per annum When water availability falls under 500 m3 per annum life is threatened.life is threatened.

• Present and future outlook for health & livelihood in Present and future outlook for health & livelihood in Somalia appears therefore extremely serious. Somalia appears therefore extremely serious.

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Access to Water & Access to Water & Sanitation in SomaliaSanitation in Somaliao According to the UNICEF MICS 2006 survey, 29% of the According to the UNICEF MICS 2006 survey, 29% of the

population in Somalia had access to safe water sources population in Somalia had access to safe water sources and approximately 37% had access to adequate and approximately 37% had access to adequate sanitation facilities. In 2000 the MICS found that sanitation facilities. In 2000 the MICS found that 23% of 23% of the population had access to safe drinking water and the population had access to safe drinking water and 50% has access to adequate sanitation facilities.50% has access to adequate sanitation facilities.

o Despite a number of interventions in the same period Despite a number of interventions in the same period the situation remained dismal due to population growth, the situation remained dismal due to population growth, rapid urbanization and displacement. rapid urbanization and displacement.

o Such poor levels of access have significant effects upon Such poor levels of access have significant effects upon the nutritional, developmental and livelihood status of the nutritional, developmental and livelihood status of the population.the population.

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The EC Water, Sanitation & The EC Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Interventions in Hygiene Interventions in SomaliaSomalia• The European Commission has been active in The European Commission has been active in

financing water and sanitation programmes in financing water and sanitation programmes in Somalia since 1995.Somalia since 1995.

• From 1995 the EC has allocated to the water and From 1995 the EC has allocated to the water and sanitation sector through different sources more sanitation sector through different sources more than Euro 20 million with estimated around 1 than Euro 20 million with estimated around 1 million beneficiaries (12% of the 2009 Somali million beneficiaries (12% of the 2009 Somali population of about 8.5 million). population of about 8.5 million).

• However, it is estimated that over the same period However, it is estimated that over the same period the population of Somalia may have increased of at the population of Somalia may have increased of at least 2 million. least 2 million.

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Type of EC-funded Type of EC-funded Interventions 1995-2009 Interventions 1995-2009 (1)(1)• Access to water, hygiene and sanitation, particularly Access to water, hygiene and sanitation, particularly

benefiting women and children. benefiting women and children.

• Improvement of the capacity of communities to identify, Improvement of the capacity of communities to identify, plan, implement and manage water, hygiene and plan, implement and manage water, hygiene and sanitation activities.sanitation activities.

• Improvement of the technical capacity of line Improvement of the technical capacity of line administrations / ministries and other relevant administrations / ministries and other relevant institutions, particularly in support of community based institutions, particularly in support of community based initiatives.initiatives.

• Support in the policy definition and discussion. Support in the policy definition and discussion.

• Promotion of sustainable water management systems Promotion of sustainable water management systems (PPP) in urban and rural areas. (PPP) in urban and rural areas.

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Type of EC-funded Type of EC-funded Interventions 1995-2009 Interventions 1995-2009 (2)(2)• The EC has also financed the FAO-implemented The EC has also financed the FAO-implemented

Somalia Water & Land Information System (SWALIM)Somalia Water & Land Information System (SWALIM)

• SWALIM is at present the main source of information SWALIM is at present the main source of information on water in Somalia.on water in Somalia.

• SWALIM has executed an inventory of water sources SWALIM has executed an inventory of water sources in Northern Somalia and most of South-Central in Northern Somalia and most of South-Central Somalia.Somalia.

• SWALIM has just completed the mapping of the SWALIM has just completed the mapping of the UNICEF water & sanitation interventions in Somalia UNICEF water & sanitation interventions in Somalia 2005-2009.2005-2009.

• SWALIM data are available at SWALIM data are available at www.faoswalim.orgwww.faoswalim.org

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Lessons learnt Lessons learnt – All EC implemented projects have undergone All EC implemented projects have undergone

mid-term and/or final evaluations by external mid-term and/or final evaluations by external independent consultantsindependent consultants

– Interventions have been evaluated in Interventions have been evaluated in accordance to the EC criteria of accordance to the EC criteria of design/relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, design/relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.impact and sustainability.

– The evaluations have produced an immense The evaluations have produced an immense crop of lessons particularly relevant for Somalia crop of lessons particularly relevant for Somalia to be take into account in future interventions.to be take into account in future interventions.

– From all evaluations it appears that From all evaluations it appears that SUSTAINABILITY is the major challenge faced SUSTAINABILITY is the major challenge faced the Water & Sanitation projects in Somalia. the Water & Sanitation projects in Somalia.

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Lessons learnt – Social & Lessons learnt – Social & cultural environment - 1cultural environment - 1• Villagers prioritize water quantity over quality.Villagers prioritize water quantity over quality.• Recognising that livestock is an important Recognising that livestock is an important

cornerstone of the livelihoods of the targeted rural cornerstone of the livelihoods of the targeted rural populations, water supply systems need to consider populations, water supply systems need to consider water supply for livestock. water supply for livestock.

• Somali people are used to and ready to pay for Somali people are used to and ready to pay for water. They are less inclined to do so for other water. They are less inclined to do so for other services such as garbage collection & waste services such as garbage collection & waste management.management.

• Most people have yet to associate safe and clean Most people have yet to associate safe and clean water & hygiene practices with diseases such as water & hygiene practices with diseases such as diarrhea so the change of hygiene and sanitation diarrhea so the change of hygiene and sanitation behavior is a long processbehavior is a long process

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Lessons learnt – Social & Lessons learnt – Social & cultural environment - 2cultural environment - 2• Water safe at the point of collection may be not so at Water safe at the point of collection may be not so at

the point of consumption due to re-contamination the point of consumption due to re-contamination during transport, storage and handling.during transport, storage and handling.

• Promotion of safe drinking water through simple, Promotion of safe drinking water through simple, acceptable, affordable and effective domestic water acceptable, affordable and effective domestic water treatment methods at household level is therefore treatment methods at household level is therefore important.important.

• Use of Use of appropriateappropriate methods of improving water quality methods of improving water quality such as cloth filtration, boiling, filtration should be such as cloth filtration, boiling, filtration should be considered. considered.

• Promotion of production and use a ceramic filters have Promotion of production and use a ceramic filters have been very promising activity.been very promising activity.

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Lessons learnt – Social & Lessons learnt – Social & cultural environment - 3cultural environment - 3• Changing traditional behavior on hygiene & sanitation is a Changing traditional behavior on hygiene & sanitation is a

long & sustained effort which may take generations.long & sustained effort which may take generations.– Although many latrines exist in the most Although many latrines exist in the most

populated areas, many communities are still populated areas, many communities are still unaware of their benefits and many of them are unaware of their benefits and many of them are not in use.not in use.

– Nomadic communities are clearly reluctant to Nomadic communities are clearly reluctant to use latrines.use latrines.

– Most people do not use soap for washing, are not Most people do not use soap for washing, are not aware of the danger posed by children's stool, do aware of the danger posed by children's stool, do not purify water, do not regularly wash before not purify water, do not regularly wash before preparing food or changing baby's nappies etc. preparing food or changing baby's nappies etc.

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Lessons learnt- Working in Lessons learnt- Working in conflict & post-conflict conflict & post-conflict environmentenvironment• Flexibility in the design, management and Flexibility in the design, management and

implementation of development activities is implementation of development activities is crucial in conflict / post-conflict countries. crucial in conflict / post-conflict countries.

• Provision of moving activities from insecure Provision of moving activities from insecure to secure areas should be embedded in the to secure areas should be embedded in the design & organization (Peace and design & organization (Peace and governance dividend)governance dividend)

• Despite challenges & high costs remote Despite challenges & high costs remote management has proved to be feasible management has proved to be feasible

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Lessons learnt - Lessons learnt - Sustainability - 1Sustainability - 1• Capacity constraints are a key factor in preventing rural Capacity constraints are a key factor in preventing rural

communities from sustaining access to water and sanitation communities from sustaining access to water and sanitation facilities, especially mechanised water supply systems, over facilities, especially mechanised water supply systems, over the long term.the long term.

• The main underlying reasons are:The main underlying reasons are:– The systems are complex and human resources to The systems are complex and human resources to

manage them are scarce and costly. Spare parts are manage them are scarce and costly. Spare parts are difficult to obtain and dealer and technicians are difficult to obtain and dealer and technicians are often far away. often far away.

– Management of financial resources is difficult in Management of financial resources is difficult in environment without banks or places where to keep environment without banks or places where to keep money safe. As consequence money is not available money safe. As consequence money is not available in moments of need.in moments of need.

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Lessons learnt – Sustainability Lessons learnt – Sustainability - 2- 2

• To ensure sustainability promotion of To ensure sustainability promotion of community ownership and capacity building community ownership and capacity building is the best suited for small water supplies is the best suited for small water supplies (shallow wells, berkhads and baileys) and (shallow wells, berkhads and baileys) and for hygiene and sanitation interventions. for hygiene and sanitation interventions.

• Private-public partnership appears to be a Private-public partnership appears to be a promising approach to manage mechanized promising approach to manage mechanized water supply systems mainly in urban areas water supply systems mainly in urban areas but tests in rural areas are under way.but tests in rural areas are under way.

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Sustainability - 2Sustainability - 2• The experience of PPP in Somalia is positive.The experience of PPP in Somalia is positive.

• Compared to public utilities the PPP interventions have Compared to public utilities the PPP interventions have usually been able to expand services, increase usually been able to expand services, increase revenue collection, reduce volumes of water revenue collection, reduce volumes of water unaccounted for, improve efficiency, increase staff unaccounted for, improve efficiency, increase staff loyalty and decrease downtime. loyalty and decrease downtime.

• Currently the success of the PPP system is based to a Currently the success of the PPP system is based to a large extent on the goodwill of the parties involved. large extent on the goodwill of the parties involved. While the importance of this goodwill should be While the importance of this goodwill should be recognised, a firm legal and institutional framework recognised, a firm legal and institutional framework needs to be put in place, while, at the same time, needs to be put in place, while, at the same time, avoiding over-regulating.avoiding over-regulating.

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Sustainability - 3Sustainability - 3• A clear commitment of the political authorities and A clear commitment of the political authorities and

beneficiary communities is necessary. beneficiary communities is necessary.

• Since vested interests always contrast change there is need Since vested interests always contrast change there is need to invest time in participatory planning and implementation to invest time in participatory planning and implementation & in encouraging ownership among the various & in encouraging ownership among the various stakeholders. stakeholders.

• The PPP system needs to address environmental issues The PPP system needs to address environmental issues related to the sustainable management of water extraction related to the sustainable management of water extraction (by the private sector) and the conservation of surface and (by the private sector) and the conservation of surface and groundwater resources (by both the private and public groundwater resources (by both the private and public sectors).sectors).

• The policy & regulatory framework is not yet conducive to The policy & regulatory framework is not yet conducive to direct private investments. direct private investments.

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Lessons learnt - Gender Lessons learnt - Gender & Environment& Environment• Although women and children generally benefit Although women and children generally benefit

from the interventions there are no specific from the interventions there are no specific interventions for them.interventions for them.

• The main environmental challenges emerging The main environmental challenges emerging are:are:– Pollution of water sources (shallow well, Pollution of water sources (shallow well,

berkhads & baileys) due to garbage and human berkhads & baileys) due to garbage and human wastes.wastes.

– Over-pumping of groundwater resources.Over-pumping of groundwater resources.– Overgrazing, over-browsing & settlements Overgrazing, over-browsing & settlements

around permanent water sourcesaround permanent water sources. .

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