Online yearly tracking of progress in Water and Sanitation in targetted districts
Marceline Nyambala
The first time I heard
about Re- imagine reporting was at Water For People; and it immediately
conjured up connotative images of people reflecting on past progress of a
project by engaging their imagination. Having
been weaned into a diet of self-explanatory names like Water For People,
Everyone Forever I assumed that Re- imagine reporting was in the same regimen. Marceline Nyambala
 |
| Nick Burn Chief of Programmes, Water For People discusses the RIR platform with Water For People Staff at their offices in Kigali. |
Day
One
On 13 May 2013, I meet for breakfast Mr Gordon Mumbo, the Africa Regional Manager and Nick Burns, Chief of
International Progammes and thanks to the photos on Skype and other online platforms with pictures, I
easily recognize Burn whom I am meeting for first time. The walk to the Water
For People offices from Classic hotel thereafter is less than five minutes. A
convenience I did not enjoy the last time I was in Rwanda for the Rulindo “Every
One Forever” meeting in November 2012, as the hotel was actually under construction.
We soon get to
the office and after a short exchange of pleasantries Mr
Mumbo kicks off the meeting. As this is
a preparatory sessions, everybody shares about their activities. We hear from Sebastian
Ngomanziza, Project
Officer
that the Water For People, had been receiving favourable ratings from the
evaluation team from Immigration department as an agent of change due to
relevant and tangible work on the ground.
A factor, he says means that Water For People would continue its
operations in the districts of Rwanda. Colleagues confirm that several Civil
Society organizations have been suspended after poor ratings and disapproval from
their districts of operation. Ngomanziza further reminds
us that Eco – san toilet, had been endorsed for all schools seeking to put up
pit latrines in Rulindo district during the last Every One Forever meeting in
the district. An Eco San, is an ecological toilet, which is urine-diverting system toilet
where feaces are separated from urine and reused as fertilizers.
We also learn from Steve
Mugabo, Business Development Manager that in Ntarabana sector in Rulindo
a sacco had approved loans for 49 households to build various toilets including
VIP, Pour Flush and Eco- San toilets. However he reveals that some two individuals, have been denied loans by the sacco due to difficulty in paying the last time. The first disbursement is expected in mid-June. This we are told is within the context and a
recent government policy to open up saccos in every sector to encourage
savings. The cost of the toilet could be 86,000 RWF but could go down to 25,000
RWF if one has their own resources, with an interest of two per cent on a
reducing balance.
Perpetue Kamuyumbu, Rwanda Country Director expressed her excitement at the prospect of the upcoming RIR reflection session. “During the reflection we will see how far we have gone with Everyone,” Kamuyumbu said. She pointed out that 15 people were expected including EWSA, the districts of Rulindo, & Kicukiro and noting that the meeting had also brought on board Chief of International Programms, the Regional manager and well as Regional Communication & Knowledge management person.
Mugabo said data was collected in the 17 sectors of Rulindo, using FLOW phones uploaded on dash boards. Genevive Banimana said she hoped issue of co- financing can be brought to the fore. “Often the cost of hardware is clear, however the cost of software is not understood and not planned for including capacity building for staff, monitoring end evaluation.
 |
| Eco - san toilet; an example of sanitation project by Water For People |
Perpetue Kamuyumbu, Rwanda Country Director expressed her excitement at the prospect of the upcoming RIR reflection session. “During the reflection we will see how far we have gone with Everyone,” Kamuyumbu said. She pointed out that 15 people were expected including EWSA, the districts of Rulindo, & Kicukiro and noting that the meeting had also brought on board Chief of International Programms, the Regional manager and well as Regional Communication & Knowledge management person.
Mugabo said data was collected in the 17 sectors of Rulindo, using FLOW phones uploaded on dash boards. Genevive Banimana said she hoped issue of co- financing can be brought to the fore. “Often the cost of hardware is clear, however the cost of software is not understood and not planned for including capacity building for staff, monitoring end evaluation.
Thank God for our colleague Eileen Lambert in Denver
for uploading the information on the RIR platform online on Kicukiro on http://reporting.waterforpeople.org/kicukiro
& http://reporting.waterforpeople.org/rulindo for Rulindo we had data on
the RIR platform to refer to. But what is the RIR platform? Re-Imagine Reporting platform is an
interactive window into Water For People’s progress over time, of its Every One Forever showing the
organization’s successes and challenges, while giving stakeholders a
comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of Everyone Forever versus a
spreadsheet with line items and figures. On the platform, you'll find
information, data, metrics and stories about our work.
Everyone Forever is Water For People’s initiative whereby the organisation
works with other WASH sector players to create a world where ”Everyone” every
family, every school, and every clinic in the areas we work, have access
to improved water and sanitation before we rest, or move to a new place. “Forever,” looks beyond the work of
installing hardware-tanks, pipes, pumps, and latrines, and focus on building
local knowledge and institutional systems that support water and sanitation
services forever. Mumbo says the preparatory meeting was spent looking at parameters
necessary for the RIR session.
.jpg) |
| Perpetue Kamuyumbu, Water For People Country Director with colleague Genevive |
Every One
Forever comes at a cost says Mumbo and it is important to know what the Forever
would cost. Mumbo said there lessons
from other countries who have started including various costs operations, maintenance
as well as replacement in the tariffs. Progressively
these lessons will be put on the platform.
 |
| Water For People Africa Regional Manager shares a point during the preparatory meeting |
“Capital required for Every One Forever in Rulindo or Kicukiro is
estimated at $16 million while the existing assets are worth $ 30 million, thus
46 million will be required to replace the system after 25 years,” says Nick
Burns, Head of International Programs. Burns says the whole question of where
the resources to achieve EF, Forever will be discussed. A key question with regard to achieving “Every
One” is whether we have the capacity to reach Every one, while the question Forever is whether we have institutions and processe to ensure water and sanitation services forever.
The Water For People partners are
expected on Wednesday 15 May at a hotel Beansejour hotel in Kigali for the RIR sessions.
