Construction of water system and latrines of Las Marías, Orocuina

Transcription

1 Construction of water system and latrines of Las Marías, Orocuina

2 Overview 2 Organization Swiss Red Cross (SRC) International Cooperation Rainmattstrasse Bern Switzerland Country / Region Project Description Beneficiaries Duration Local Partners Implementation and Monitoring Technical Data HONDURAS / Choluteca Department Construction of water system and latrines of Las Marías, Orocuina. Improve the quality of life and environmental conditions for 104 families by building a water supply system for drinking water and latrines People 2005 (12 Months) Budget CHF Honduran Red Cross (HRC) Ministry of Health (Secretaría de Salud) SRC Programme coordinator SRC in Bern, Anna Zingg SRC Delegate based in Tegucigalpa, Claudio Stauffer San Antonio de Padua Health Centre, local authorities Construction of: gallons distribution tank 2 GI & PVC pipe for distribution network PVC pipe for household connections with 1/2 valves) Drilled well (6 by approx. 30 m) Solar powered pumping system 140 pour-flush (water seal) latrines

3 1. Context 3 Honduras is located within the Central American isthmus and shares borders to the north with the Caribbean Sea, in the south with El Salvador, the southeast with Nicaragua and the west with Guatemala. It has a territory of 112,492 km2 and a population of more than 6 million people. The territory is divided into 18 Departments and 297 municipalities. Honduras has a democratically elected government and the State is divided into three branches: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. In the last 18 years 5 civilian governments have been elected. Choluteca Department The Department of Choluteca has a territorial extension of km.2, 16 municipalities and a population of 295,400 inhabitants. Choluteca borders to the north with the Departments of Francisco Morazán and El Paraíso, to the east with Nicaragua, and to the west with the Gulf of Fonseca and Valle Department. Choluteca s main economic activities are shrimp farming, sugar cane and melon farming and cattle ranching. Choluteca is among the 4 poorest Departments of Honduras, mostly because of a very barren climate and limited access for most of the population to the means of production, land, credits and steady employment. Municipality of Orocuina The Municipality of Orocuina was founded in 1646 and has an area of km2. It has a population of 16,000 people but due to difficult access it is one of the more underdeveloped municipalities of Choluteca Department. Travel to Orocuina takes nearly four hours over rough, dirt roads after leaving the paved highway near the Municipality of Pespire. Orocuina is heavily deforested. Poor topsoil means agricultural production is far below national averages. In recent years the population has suffered repeatedly from food shortages caused by droughts. 2. Commitment and involvement of the Swiss Red Cross After Hurricane Mitch, the Honduran Red Cross (HRC), with financial support from the Swiss Red Cross (SRC), has been executing reconstruction projects since March 1999 in home improvement and construction, water systems, public sanitary infrastructure and latrines, improvement of health centres and post-natal recovery clinics in the Choluteca public hospital, community education in Preventive Health, Disaster Prevention and Preparedness and strengthening of community organizations (Health Committees and Village Development Committees) in the Departments of Choluteca and Valle. HRC with financing from the SRC is also carrying out Community Health Projects in the region since July In the first stage a Health Centre in the community of San Antonio de Padua was built and Community Health Volunteers were trained in neighbouring communities. Because of the overwhelming needs in the area, coverage of the Community

4 4 Health Volunteers program was extended and complemented with the Latrine Project. All activities in health in the zone are closely coordinated with the central government s Ministry of Health. The village of Las Marías does not have a safe water supply and cannot build a gravity system because it is located on a high area of a mountain. Presently it has a shallow, hand-dug community well that dries up in the summer (March to June). Some low-yield, shallow private household wells also exist but a rocky layer at about 8 meters depth prevents manually digging deeper wells. Lack of safe water, latrines and the consumption of contaminated water cause high incidences of water-borne and vector-related, especially among vulnerable children. The Project was identified as a priority by the target population itself. Improving the availability of potable water and the appropriate disposition of human waste will be an essential complement to improving the health conditions of the village of Las Marías, will not have a negative impact to the local environment and will permit a significant reduction of waterborn and vector-related diseases. 3. Beneficiaries Direct: 598 people. Indirect: Approximately 2,000 people will benefit indirectly from the project in neighbouring communities through the reduction of diseases transmitted by vectors. The project will directly benefit 104 families, for a total of 598 people, of whom 196 are children under 15 years of age. 60% of the population is literate and the monthly average income is Lps. 720 (40 US$) per family. The population survives on subsistence agriculture and some work as day labourers on coffee plantations in neighbouring El Paraíso Department. 4. Local Partners The Honduran Red Cross has made an enormous contribution at the national level with the execution of reconstruction projects after Hurricane Mitch and enjoys a very good reputation due to the quality of the work carried out with strong community participation. As well, the HRC has more than ten years of experience in the development of water and environmental sanitation projects and has professional personnel for supervising the work through the Office of Infrastructure Projects (OIP). The HRC has a Technical Team in southern Honduras financed by the SRC, composed of a Coordinator, five Social Promoters, two Nurses and a Driver. The Technical Team is in charge of organizing, training and accompanying communities in the development phase of their Projects, as well as strengthening the HRC affiliates in the area. Presently the five

5 affiliates have integrated volunteers into the training and community activities processes in their areas. 5 This project will permit the strengthening of the Office of Projects (OIP), improving the training of it s human resources and management of it s financial resources, as well as strengthening the HRC affiliate in Pespire in the execution of community projects. 5. Overall goal of the project The project consists of the construction of a new potable water system and 104 latrines in the village of Las Marías in the Municipality of Orocuina, Choluteca Department. It is estimated the construction phase of the project should take 95 days for the water system and latrines, with the target population contributing manual labour and local materials. A deep well will be drilled, probably of 6-inch diameter and approximately 30 meters depth. Because of the village s distance from electrical service, a solar energy pumping system will be installed. A 5,000 gallon distribution tank for water storage will be built to supply the houses by gravity. A distribution network of 5,000 meters of galvanized iron pipe (GI) and PVC of up to 2 diameter and 936 meters of _ PVC pipe for household connections will be installed. The 104 latrines will be of the pour-flush (water seal) design - one in each home. Personnel of the Honduran Red Cross (HRC) and the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) Technical Teams will support community organization and monitor community participation, as well as providing the necessary sanitary education to the target families. Training and follow-up will last another six months. The technical part of the project will be supervised by the Water and Sanitation Engineer of the Office of Infrastructure Projects (OIP) of the HRC. For project execution a participative methodology will be applied, wherein all people involved contribute with their knowledge and experience. Technical assistance will be offered where needed to develop and strengthen existing local capacities. Local human and material resources will be used wherever possible. During the construction phase technical knowledge and hands-on experience will be shared with beneficiaries to create capacity within the community to maintain their infrastructure in good working condition. 6. Contents The contribution of the beneficiary population will consist primarily of unskilled labour for excavation, laying pipes and refilling trenches. It is estimated that each family will supply 95 work days. Considering that an unskilled labourer earns on average 25 Lempiras per day in this area, a total contribution per family of Lps. 2,375 (132 US$) can be calculated. The 104 beneficiary families have already agreed to contribute the work necessary to

6 6 build the water system and their latrines. The Municipality of Orocuina has agreed to give all necessary permits and contribute to the project by transporting local materials (sand, rock, etc.). The Las Marías Water Board will charge each beneficiary family a modest monthly tariff of at least Lps. 36 (2 USD) for their household water service to be used for operation and maintenance of the system. All families have agreed to this tariff and have committed themselves to paying on time each month. HRC and SRC experiences with the community of Las Marías have been very positive. Contributions of local unskilled labour of approximately 120 days/person have already built the Health Centre in the neighbouring community of San Antonio de Padua. As well, local Health Volunteers have achieved 100% of their planned goals and activities during their formative phase. Once the project is completed all commitments by the donors will also have been completed. The water system will be officially turned over to the Las Marías Water Board for future operation and maintenance--. Beneficiaries will be trained in the correct use of their latrines and well be sensitized regarding the importance of punctual monthly payments of tariffs for the Water Board to be able to maintain the system in operation. HRC will provide follow-up to beneficiaries through the Development Project financed by the SRC through the end of This program contemplates the formation of Health Volunteers and the strengthening of community organizations (Village Development Committees, Health Committees and Environmental Committees). Volunteers from Las Marías also participate actively in this process. 7. Operational and financial management The project will be coordinated by the Delegate of the Swiss Red Cross (SRC), through the Office of Infrastructure Projects (OIP) of the HRC and the Pespire HRC affiliate. The Regional Coordinator of HRC - SRC based in Nacaome will be responsible for Project execution. Technical supervision of the project will be carried out through the Office of Infrastructure Projects (OIP) of the HRC, by the Water and Sanitation Engineer. Organizational supervision will be done by the Delegate of the SRC. Financial supervision will be the responsibility of the General Administrator of the HRC. The project may at any time be evaluated by donors, the National Water and Sewerage Service (SANAA) or the Ministry of Health.

7 An audit will be carried out once Financial Reports are delivered, works are completed and/or according to indications by the donors. 7 The Engineer of the Office of Infrastructure Projects of HRC will provide reports on the progress of the civil works under construction. The Coordinator of the HRC - SRC team will be in charge of providing reports on community participation. Financial reports will be provided by the General Administrator of the HRC. Prominently visible signage will be placed at the construction site and will include a description of the project, names and logos of the executors and donors. In any meetings or events where there is the opportunity to present and disseminate the project the donors will also be mentioned. Swiss Red Cross International Cooperation Anna Zingg Programme Coordinator February 14, 2005 az/mue Annexes: Budget Map of Choluteca Department Photos of the village of Las Marías

8 Budget 8

9 Location 9 Las Marías

10 Infrassure Ltd. Langhaus 1 CH-5401 Baden Switzerland