Project Reference No: 17-A-021

Final Project Report

Project title: Access to water for rural poor subsistence farming households for domestic use and micro-gardening to improve nutrition in Lemlem village, Enderta District of Tigray regional state of

Ethiopia

Organisation Name: Trócaire, in partnership with Ethiopian Catholic Church- Social and Development Coordinating Office of Adigrat - Mekelle branch (ECC-SDCOA- M)

Date and Amount of Funds Received: €12,334 on 5th May 2017

1. Project Outcomes – Summary of the Results Achieved

The overall aim of the project was:

A. To increase access to safe water for 115 households for domestic and productive use

B. To improve hygiene and sanitation practices in 115 households

C. To enhance the capacity of communities and government bodies to sustainably manage rehabilitated

and constructed water schemes

The project has over achieved in terms of project outputs and numbers of beneficiaries.

A. Regarding access to water, two shallow boreholes were rehabilitated and one new shallow borehole

drilled, which benefited 1,937 people (996 female) or 387 HHs (199 FHH). This is 237% more

beneficiaries than originally planned. This was achieved by rehabilitating one additional shallow well

borehole and by high community participation and contribution.

B. Regarding improved hygiene and sanitation practice 248 households (238 FHHs) were trained on

hygiene and sanitation. This is 115% more beneficiaries than originally planned.

C. Regarding the management capacity of the communities, it was planned to establish two WASH

committees but during the period three WASH committees were established with 21 WASH members

(one guard, 3 women and 3 men for one water point).

Beneficiaries Table:Activity Projected

HouseholdProjected Male

ProjectedFemale

ActualHousehold

Actual Male

Actual Female

A. Access to Clean Water 115 270 305 387 941 996B. Sanitation and Hygiene

training115 248 10 238

C. Community’s management capacity

2 WASH committees

3 WASH committees

12 9

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2. Project Outcomes – Detailed Progress of the Project against Plan

2.1 Pre-Project Implementation activities

2.1.1 Staff assignment

Before start-up of the project and its implementation, one development specialist and one water technician

were recruited and a WASH Expert, logistician, accountant, Program Head, Project Coordinator, M & E officer

and other project staff were all part assigned to the project.

2.1.2 Briefing to Woreda (district) and Tabia (sub-district) GO experts

To inform interested stakeholders about the project and to help collaboration, discussions were held with

community members at Woreda and Tabia district level. The discussion focused on the action plan and budget

of the project, setting specifications and amount of wage payment, complaint handling mechanisms,

community contribution and responsibility of Woreda and Tabia local government administration, Woreda

offices and the community.

2.2 Outcome A: Increase access to safe water to 115 households for domestic and productive use

To increase access to safe water to 115 households for domestic and productive use, it was planned to drill one

shallow borehole and rehabilitate one shallow borehole and to construct 15 Kalamino 1 cisterns with a capacity

of 7.2 M3. The cisterns are expected to improve the living conditions of women, girls, and entire communities

significantly as it can serve for four months of the dry season for both domestic use (drinking, washing, cooking

and bathing) as well as micro-gardening.

During the reporting period, two shallow boreholes were rehabilitated and one new shallow borehole drilled,

which benefited 1,937 people (996 female) or 387 HHs (199 FHH). The project has over achieved by

rehabilitating one additional shallow well borehole and through the high community participation and

contribution. During a study of damaged water structures, complete damage was expected and the cost was

calculated accordingly. However when the actual maintenance was started, the damage was not as serious as

was expected. This reduced the cost of maintenance of the borehole and enabled us to repair more structures.

The other cause of the increased number of beneficiaries is due to the increased number of people who have

accessed the water resource. During project cost setting, the numbers of users was calculated based on the

1 Kalamino cistern is a type of reservoir piloted by the Swiss agency HELVETAS in Kalamino sub-district. It is a reliable alternative source of household drinking water and micro-gardening in locations where surface and groundwater are either unavailable, out of reach, or unsafe. It is particularly suitable for communities and households with severe constraints to access of water especially to those living on tops of mountain, along ridges, or in dry plains with deep water tables that are too costly to explore.

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standard of number of people per one structure. But, the actual number of residents that fetch water from

these structures were more than the standard number per borehole (i.e. numbers of boreholes are low relative

to the number of residents).

Drilling, rehabilitating, installation of Shallow Well Boreholes and fetching

To further benefit 67 household members, 15 Kalamino cisterns with a capacity of 7.2 M3 were constructed in

eleven female headed households and four male headed households . The Cisterns are constructed by

HELVETAS per the revised capacity, from 10m3 to 7.2 M3.

Kalamino Cistern construction (foundation to final stage)

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Sample of completed Kalamino Cisterns

In addition to these, there was a plan to provide training to 15 female-headed households in Lemlem Tabia. 11

female heads of households and 4 male heads of households were trained on how to use the water for

production of vegetables and domestic consumption and how to operate and maintain the cisterns. Male

heads of households participated at the request of female headed households who were uncertain on how to

use the cisterns and wanted accompaniment from more experienced users. The eleven female headed

households received guidance from the four male farmers who had experience in use of the cisterns.

Practical training on micro gardening

Trained beneficiaries have now prepared land in their backyard and have planted vegetable seedlings. It is

expected that each household is going to grow different vegetables for their own consumption and for the

market.

2.3 Outcome B: Improved hygiene and sanitation practices in 115 households

The community had low awareness on hygiene and sanitation practices, and as a result, the communities and

specifically children were affected by waterborne diseases. In order to address this, it was planned to promote

hygiene and sanitation practices among the 250 target households. Accordingly, 248 households (10 MHHs)

were trained on hygiene and sanitation. Topics of the training included;Page 4 of 9

Status of Hygiene and Sanitation in the target area

Handling and disposal systems of solid and liquid wastes

Water hygiene

Discussion on how to create open defecation free Tabias

Action plan preparation

Based on the training, most of the households now practice better hygiene and sanitation. They have dug holes

for solid and liquid wastes with coverage and jerry cans for hand washing after the use of toilets. In addition

they have a clean compound to protect members of households from flies and other insects that cause

diseases.

Table 2: Training participants of Hygiene and sanitation

S.no Tabia/categoryTraining Participants

Male Femele Total

1 Kedamay weyane 1 76 77

2 Felegeselam 2 80 82

3 Lemlem 3 74 77

4 Health Extension workers 0 6 6

5 Health Supervisors 2 1 3

6 Woreda Health Experts 2 1 3

Total 10 238 248

Hygiene and Sanitation training

2.4 Outcome C: Enhance the capacity of communities and government bodies to sustainably

manage rehabilitated and constructed water schemes

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It was planned to establish two WASH committees but during the period three WASH committees

were established having 21 WASH members (one guard, 3 women and 3 men for one water point).

After the establishment, members were trained in the operation and maintenance of water sources,

book-keeping, financial management and tariff (fee) setting/collection. The project staff delivered the

training in collaboration with the Woreda (district) water office. The WASH committees were linked to

Woreda Water Offices so that they could get technical and material support from the office. They

were also provided with basic hand tools for minor maintenance and repairs.

WASH committee training

3. Financial Accountability – how the money was spent

Cost Item Unit Cost Qty.No. Total cost

ETBTotal cost

EURO Budget Actual Electric

AidTrócaire

Direct Project Staff

Water technician/Engineer 6,500.00 1 6

49,530.00

2,063.75

2,063.75

1,101.23 0

1,101.23

Field facilitator 3,700.00 1 6 28,194.00

1,174.75

1,174.75

447.94 0

447.94

Sub Total - Programe Staff

77,724.00

3,238.50

3,238.50

1,549.17 0

1549.17

Support Staff Salary

Cashier 3,000.00 1 6 11,430.00

476.25

476.25

738.16 0

738.16

Sub Total - Support Staff

11,430.00

476.25

476.25

738.16 0

738.16

Programe Actvitiy Rehabilitation of Boreholes 75,350.00 1 1

60,350.00

2,514.58

2,514.58

2,662.65 0

2662.65

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Drilling of shallow boreholes 162,500.00 1 1

146,016.00

6,084.00

6,084.00

5,555.56 5,555.56

0

Kalamino cistern 172,500.00 1 1 150,000.00

6,250.00

6,250.00

5,499.15 5,499.15

0

WASH committee training 10,500.00 1 1

10,500.00

437.50

437.50

542.20 542.20

0

Training on micro gardening 600.00 15 1

9,000.00

375.00

375.00

346.58 346.58

0

Community sensitization 250.00 260 1

65,000.00

2,708.33

2,708.33

2,319.33 390.51

1928.82

Sub Total : Project Activity

440,866.00

18,369.42

18,369.42

16,925.48 12,334

4,591.47

Project Support Costs Stationary and Vouchers 500.00 1 6

3,000.00

125.00

125.00

117.89 0

117.89

Maintenance Cost 2,500.00 1 6

15,000.00

625.00

625.00

1,121.30

1,121.30

Fuel 14.96 225 6 20,196.00

841.50

841.50

463.69 0

463.69

Communication (Telephone, Internet, Fax, Postal, etc.) 800.00 1 6

4,800.00

200.00

200.00

175.85 0

175.85

Sub Total : Project Support

42,996.00

1,791.50

1,791.50

1,878.73 0

1,878.73

Monitoring and Evaluation Costs

Per diem - activity 250.00 20 6 30,000.00

1,250.00

1,250.00

479.19 0

479.19

Per diem -start up 750.00 20 1 15,000.00

625.00

625.00

- 0

0

Trocaire programme support, M+E 8,000.00 6 1

48,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

906.19 0

906.19

Sub Total : M&E 93,000.00

3,875.00

3,875.00

1,385.38 0

1,385.38

Grand Total 666,016.00

27,750.67

27,750.67

22,476.92 12,334

10,142.92

Budget notes:

ECC-SDCOA- Mekelle Branch Financial utilization, starting from May 2017 to October 31, 2017, was 616,273.48

Ethiopian birr which is 88% of the project budget. For more detail please see the attached excel sheet. The

project is completed, but there is a remaining balance on the Trócaire costs/ input due to exchange rate gain

and a reduction in the capacity of each cistern compared to the original project proposal. The remaining

balance is going to be added to an additional budget allocated from Trócaire HQ to benefit additional

beneficiaries to access the irrigation schemes.

4. Reporting

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4.1 Project Learning and Adaptation

Continuous discussion with government at the Tabia level administration and with the community has

increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the project. For instance, discussions with the community led

them to contribute local materials which helped to rehabilitate one more shallow well borehole.

During the project implementation great attention was given to vulnerable households such as women and

elder people. In addition, because fetching of water is the responsibility of women and girls, the availability of

water affects the labour, time and access to education for both. Elderly people and people living with HIV/AIDS

also have problems accessing water. From the total project beneficiaries 60% are women and elder people.

According to the rules of the Water Management Committees, each household is expected to contribute if

possible towards maintenance and to cover the contribution of vulnerable households such as the elders and

people living with HIV/AIDS/PLWHA who are exempted from such payments.

During cistern construction, priority was given to female headed households and out of the total 15

beneficiaries of cisterns 11 were female headed households.

4.2 Safeguarding and Accountability

ECC-SADCO-Ad has a clear statement of mission, values and principles that includes a commitment to respect

all partners and has policies regarding HIV/Aids and child protection. It also has a downward accountability

policy and respects all other NGO’s code of conduct.

The beneficiaries have been involved in implementation, in the selection of workers and in beneficiaries

selection. The specific beneficiaries were chosen through clear and transparent selection and registration

process carried out by Tabia council and endorsed by the community and dispatched through Woreda Water

Resource, Mine and Energy to ECC- SDCOA-Mekelle Branch. A briefing was given regarding the targeting

criteria, their entitlement, project schedule, the compliant system to beneficiaries in meeting; and establishing

complaint handling mechanisms. The complaint system ECC-SDCO Ad used the existing government compliant

system used in PSNP and other projects.

The project also applied protection mainstreaming principles in the management of project activities such as

Do No Harm, and equal and impartial assistance. Concrete project ways of working based on these two

principles are: selection of appropriate time and place for wage payment of daily workers; suitable work norm

for everyone; and appropriate targets with a focus on vulnerability.

5. Case Study - Cisterns providing homes with regular water accessPage 8 of 9

Medihin Kebede lives in Lemlem Tabia, Akeza village. She is the head of a family of eight and is one of the

beneficiaries for whom water cisterns were constructed to be used as a source of water for domestic use and

micro-gardening.

Medihin and many in her community previously experienced water shortages in the area. Where often women

and young girls would be forced to travel more than four hours (round trip) to fetch water from the nearest

water tap. Medihin said, that sometimes if there was a long queue it would take half a day to get back home.

The only other alternative was to draw unprotected water from a river.

The availability of water nearby allows young girls to pursue their education uninterrupted and allows women

to focus not only on household chores but income generating schemes. “Considering this problem we faced,

the project selected me to participate in the project. I was provided with a four day training on how to harvest

water from the roof; on how to treat the water for domestic consumption; and how to use it for micro-

gardening to diversify income and improve the diet of the household. Hygiene and sanitation and management

of the structure was also part of the training”, said Medihin.

Accordingly, one cistern was constructed in her home. She said “ If it rains during the two rainy seasons, I will

have water all the year round. This will save my time which I used to waste travelling to fetch water. I hope that

the nutritional status of my household will also improve and we will have vegetables in the family meals. I

thank all who have supported us in making this happen for me and my family.”

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