Venue: Marga Institute – A Private Non-Profit Centre for Development Research and Advocacy.

Date and Time: Thursday October 19, 2006. From 9.00 a.m – 12.00 noon

Participants: Beneficiaries, Community Based Organizations, Local and National Government representatives, NGOs/INGOs, Development Partners and World Bank Staff

Objectives of the event:
• Share best practices and innovative approaches to development implemented since 1998 by the World Bank supported CWSSP.
• Share learning experiences of project staff and beneficiaries with  Community Based Organizations
• Tell the CWSSP  development story on the web
• Receive feedback from other organizations working on Community Water
• Disseminate information locally and internationally through the website with the facilitation of the  Public Information Center 

Agenda and Key Messages

Welcome Address - Mr Piyasena Wellakkage (Project Director)

Opening Remarks - Naoko Ishii (Country Director, World Bank Sri Lanka)

Introduction to the Project - Mr Piyasena Wellakkage

Project activities in Rathmalkatuwa - Mr. AWM Siblin

Experience of a beneficiary - Mrs W.A Wimalawathie

Income Generating Activities – an example - Ms.Lakshmi Navaratne

Project activities in Dayagama - Mr. C Rathnagiri

Q&A

Closing Remarks - Toshiaki Keicho

Welcome Address by Mr Piyasena Wellakkage
National Project Director, 2nd CWSSP/Director General Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Div. Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply

“One of the key lessons learnt during the life of this project was that the Provision of basic infrastructure alone would not solve the water & Sanitation problems of the country. The challenge was to provide basic facilities and improve the living conditions of the poor in a sustainable manner. ….the first step in our strategy was to develop a participatory development approach. …One of our main objectives here is to share our experiences since 1998 and lessons learnt and best practices with the larger society and thereby encourage other villages and local institutions to emulate the CBOs work towards the improvement of the rural communities, particularly the poor”

Opening Remarks by Naoko Ishii
Country Director, World Bank Sri Lanka
Thursday October 19, 2006. From 9.00 a.m – 12.00 noon

"The Government of Sri Lanka has committed to supply safe drinking water and sanitation for its entire population by 2025….so this is our goal.
As of today in Sri Lanka, 25 – 30 % of the population still does not have easy access to water. In rural areas, the situation is worse. 35% of the village and small town populations do not have safe water. 1 out of 3 still relies on rivers, streams and other unprotected sources of water for their daily needs……
The important thing is how to sustain the impact of this project? Without serious effort, the impact will be very easily gone. So today at this seminar, the one thing we really want to learn is how to sustain the impact of this project". Read more

Introduction to the Project by Mr Piyasena Wellakkage
National Project Director, 2nd CWSSP/Director General Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Div. Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply

"The Second CWSSP aims to improve the health and well-being of approximately one million people in its project areas. Provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities, hygiene education and environmental awareness are main project activities delivered with equity and sustainability".

 Project activities in Rathmalkatuwa - Mr. AWM Siblin
Chairman, Ranpokuna CBO Rathmalkatuwa

“During the drought we have to walk for 7-8 miles to collect water.  Water usage was rationed. This led to many conflicts in the village. During the rainy season, this village has even been reported in the media for high rates of children affected by diarrhea”.

"We received money to build 94 toilets. But we built 201 toilets. Some people thought that it would be difficult to build a toilet with Rs. 3000. People helped one another. The project made us aware that an unhygienic neighbourhood is a health risk for the entire community".

Experience of a beneficiary - Mrs W.A Wimalawathie
Member, Sisilasa CBO Udahena

"Udahena is a very poor village. We lacked many facilities, including water, roads and employment opportunities. Most people in this village are daily wage laborers and the men traveled out of the village in search of work. When the project started in our village, it was the women who worked hard.

About 75% of women were involved in construction work. All people in the village worked hard for our collective objective of getting water into our village. This also promoted unity in our village…. Earlier we used to be ashamed to ask visitors to use our toilets. Today we are very happy to invite people home as now we have a clean toilet in our house.

Today I feel that with this project I have acquired many skills including the skill to speak in public".

Income Generating Activities – an example - Ms.Lakshmi Navaratne
Project Manager, Laksetha Sahana Seva Gurulawela South

"I have come here today to talk about Gurulawela South village, which is an extremely poor village. This village faced many problems due to the lack of easy access to water. The time taken by women to fetch one pot of water is one hour and women fetch water 5-6 times a day".

Through the CWSSP, Lakshmi was trained in a number of skills building and awareness programs on business development. Today she manages income generating activities of villages such as Guruluwela South.

"Today, women in this village invest 5-6 hours a day to make soft toys. The organization pays Rs. 10 for each toy and they produce 30 – 40 toys a day. In a recent survey we found that in 25 days a household can earn on average Rs. 7500”.

Speaking about the challenges faced, she said that initially, it was very difficult to change the attitudes and minds of the women to get involved in a business venture.

“We changed their attitudes. First many women did not have much confidence in us and in themselves, but we convinced them to attempt an income generating activity. We closely work with all stakeholders of this project and we make sure that there is a market for these products”

The main objective of this project is to ensure that these activities would continue even after the project support is over. “Our main objective is sustainability” stressed Lakshmi.

In a campaign to limit the use of polythene bags, which are harmful to the environment, women in this village make cloth bags with appliquéd designs and according to Lakshmi they have now arrived at a level of expertise where these products can reach export markets.

Project activities in Dayagama - Mr. C Rathnagiri,
Secretary Videwelli CBO Dayagama

“I can remember the days when we had to be in queue from 5 a.m. to get water. Now all that has changed, and within 22 seconds we are able to get 5 liters of water”

Vidivelli is a Community Based Organization in the NuwaraEliya district of the Central Province of Sri Lanka. There are 165 families living in this estate, who were all facing a lot of difficulties to obtain a supply of water. With initial support from CWSSP, today this CBO has been successful in getting the support of other institutions such as Plantation Management of Agarapathana Plantation Company, Kottagala Pradeshiya Sabha and Nuwaraeliya Farm Organization.

Past
There were only 2 public water taps for the use of 48 families of this estate.
There were 40 toilets and only 2 could be used.

Present
With support of CWSSP we have established 80 toilets and 215 families have access to water.

Q&A

Question: What is the timeframe and the selection criteria ?

Answered by the Project Director, Mr. Piyasena Wellakkage: The Selection criterion is based on the water coverage of an area. The project cycle is about twenty months.

• First 4 months for mobilization of beneficiary families
• 4 months for design and planning
• 2 months for pre-construction. People have to collect sands etc and in the meantime the Pradeshiya Sabha and the Provincial Council go through the community proposal which enclose the water schemes’ final design.  In the meantime people get ready to start the construction.
• The construction period is 10 months on maximum, but there can be exceptions, depending on the complexities.
• Another month is given for the commission to see whether there are technical defects or any other managerial shortcomings. The partner organizations along with others will address these issues during this short period.

Question: This is considered one of the “best practice” projects. Have there been initiatives to replicate these best practices in other areas? Mainly the Tsunami affected areas.

Answer by the Project Director, Mr. Piyasena Wellakkage: The First CWSSP, which was a pilot project, was a turning point in the rural water supply and sanitation sector. The new approach was proven to be successful. We started this project with support from World Bank and later on ADB followed the same tested methodology and started work in another 6 districts. JBIC studied the same methodology and agreed to support us. 7 districts are supported by JBIC. World Bank is funding 5 districts. Altogether we are working in 18 districts.

Answer by the Task Team Leader, Toshiaki Keicho: In case of the Tsunami reconstruction, the situation is different in a sense that immediate support was needed. Even under the World Bank-financed tsunami reconstruction program, however, the concept of community-driven development is there. Tsunami-affected people must be the center of reconstruction. They are planning, implementing, and managing the project. The Bank is financing some other community-driven projects such as Gemi Diriya and NEIAP.

  The dialogue continued with the participation of other project beneficiaries, CBOs and Partner Organizations. The rising cost of building materials and challenges faced by communities were two of the main issues of discussion. This event  was also a platform for beneficiaries, CBOs and Partner Organizations to openly discuss their issues and concerns with the Project Director.

Closing Remarks  - Toshiaki Keicho
Senior Urban Environment Specialist,
Task Team Leader 2nd CWSSP

"This morning we have heard about the community water project, which is also about the unity of the community, partnership, health improvement, importance of awareness creation and poverty reduction. In fact, this project is about using water as an entry point for the empowered communities to achieve all of these things".

Read more

Photographs by Chulie de Silva, External Affairs Officer, World Bank Sri Lanka.