Postcards from the field
Recent postcards from the field
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Leaders with influence: critical factors to achieving ODF in Mulanje District
In December 2016 the Traditional Authority (TA) Mthirimanja, became the first open defecation free (ODF) TA area in Mulanje District, Malawi. In discussions with TA Mthirimanja and senior health staff within the area, several key factors contributing to this success were commonly identified. These factors are relatively simple and logical, but worth reflecting on and promoting in any endeavour to influence and support leaders for successful social change.
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Right to be heard
Through the Scaling Up PATS project Plan International Pakistan has support the development of a new confidence and sense of self-worth amongst the women of the village. The project has also provided an opportunity for women to have a voice in discussions and a chance to take ownership – and to take action – in relation to issues of importance for them.
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Computerised billing system worth the investment for Zvimba District Council
Zvimba is one of the seven districts and 3 urban councils which make up Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe, and is the second most populous district in Mashonaland West. With the hellp of the Welthungerhilfe SELF project the Zvimba District Council has computerised its record keeping and billing. In so doing it has greatly improved its customer service relationships and revenue and is now investing in new equipment to further improve service delivery.
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Where demand meets supply: the ingredients for sustainable sanitation in Timor Leste
Senior Augusto Seraim is a young entrepreneur running a kiosk in Liquiça Municipality in Timor-Leste. As a successful small-business owner he knows the importance of good supply chains and the profitability of his stock. WaterAid in Timor-Leste have introduced the SaTo Pan and are supporting Augusto and other kiosk owners in Liquiça to stock it in their shops.
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Sanitation leadership earns chief a promotion
Joseph Mangombo is a man committed to improving the health of his chiefdom. The sanitation gains achieved in his village under his leadership have earned him a promotion to Group Village Headman, where he now inspires chiefs below him to adopt strong leadership on sanitation.
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What does strengthening the enabling environment look like day-to-day?
Encouraging civil society organisations (CSOs) to move away from direct delivery of services to strengthening the enabling environment is a core theme of the Civil Society WASH Fund. The enabling environment is defined as the interrelated conditions – legal, organisational, fiscal, regulatory, informational, political and cultural – that impact on the capacity of development partners, including CSOs, but also governments, to pursue development in a sustained and effective manner. A recent monitoring trip to Plan Indonesia’s project in Eastern Indonesia provided an excellent example of what strengthening the enabling environment looks like when a CSO is supporting existing structures to achieve their mandate.
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Improved sanitation reduces albinos' vulnerability in Malawi
“I feared for my life when I used the bush.” Bettie Sitolo is a 42 year old a widow who lives in Phalombe District of Malawi. Bettie was born with albinism, which as a result of a recent rise in attacks throughout Malawi, has put her life at considerable risk. Without a latrine, meeting the most basic of needs was a dangerous walk away. However, the United Purpose project has supported her to construct a latrine and ensure her safety in accessing latrines.
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Effectiveness of approaches: sanitation marketing having impact at scale
As projects within the Civil Society WASH Fund complete their final years, people are asking what lessons can be learnt across the 29 Fund projects, and which WASH approaches have proven effective. These are big questions and not easy to respond to in comparative terms – it is difficult to say which approaches are more effective than others due to the enormous variability in contexts and challenges being faced. After a recent visit to Plan Indonesia, what we can say is that the sanitation marketing approach being taken in that context in conjunction with Government of Indonesia’s Community-Based Total Sanitation (STBM), is highly effective and having impact at scale.
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From skeptic to change agent
Building markets for sanitation always has challenges, but the conditions in Vietnam provide particular barriers. From the top levels of Vietnam’s communist leadership to local government employees, iDE needed to overcome negative perceptions of sales and marketing in order to drive latrine adoption and behavior change. Over the last 15 years, Vietnam’s leaders have become convinced that our market-based approach works, but the real test is ensuring that the local change agents believe in and embrace the methodology.
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Commune Chief strongly supports water project
Mr. Chhoung Srim is the commune chief of the Vihear Thum commune, Kampong Cham province. He is 75 years old and he has been serving as the commune chief for 36 years. He has shown strong support to the water project with Thrive/East Meets West in his commune in many ways. The project is lucky to have such a commune chief like Mr. Srim.
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Household moving from practising open defication to having access to hygienic latrine thanks to WASHOBA project
Before WASHOBA, Mrs. Phaiboun and her family members used to practice open defecation. But with WASHOBA, she used her savings to build a hygienic latrine. Now they do not have open defecation any more.
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Willing to experiment at 85 years of age: a composting toilet in Malawi
Enoch says that at first the idea seemed strange, but now he thinks his toilet is fantastic. For the first time in years, his toilet has survived the wet season; and his maize crop is looking great.
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Waste not, want not: Reusing waste water to improve nutrition and borehole sustainability in Mandeule Village
Wastewater from boreholes usually drains back into the water table unused. With the help of United Purpose in Malawi, the water point committee in Mandeule village, Phalombe district, has recognised the benefits wastewater can offer and has constructed a vegetable garden to generate income to support the borehole’s maintenance.
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