Reported by:
Jose Piato
(Aplimentec Community Facilitator)
Introduction
Maintain a clean water system in
rural areas post construction is serious challenges facing by Timor-Leste’s
local government (DSAS) and NGOs. The government (DNSAS) policy is currently
using GMF (local community water committee) as the main strategy to sustain the
water systems in rural sites. In facts, most of GMF is not working properly
after the project hand over to the community. GMF in rural areas largely only
survive for no longer than 6 months. Other GMF might hold out for 1 year. Then,
most of the water infrastructures could not be maintained as consequences.
GMF and issued of failed
Pursuant to local government (DSAS) and
NGOs water there are many activities to support GMF during the clean water
project's implementation. The activities are included Community Action Plan
(CAP), training, capacity building and water equipments donation. Local
government and NGOs water is additionally uses the community low cost support
as other key strategy to sustain the community water system. Nevertheless it is
not working properly till nowadays.
Facts behind the fails
We found there are some facts
influence the failed of GMF to maintain the water systems in rural areas. Firstly
is less of the local government commitment on maintenances issues. Local
government is necessarily has responsibility to main communication, supervision
and permanent supporting to GMF post physical construction. However DSAS is not
run the responsibility properly. Lots of GMF confessed that they have been lack
the communication with DSAS after the project hand over. Fewer communications
with DSAS caused most of GMF members forsake their roles and responsibility in
local water committee.
GMF also informed that a common
problem is facing by GMF when community members stop cooperating even stop
their monthly financial supports. Some community even commits illegal
connection and breakdown the facilities in addition. The root caused is less coercive
water regulation to control the users. The condition get worst when local
leaders include Chief of villages and sub villages has no control to support
GMF to take coercive actions to illegal water destruction. In the end, GMF lost
their way to main the system and totally abandon their responsibility.
Secondly is less of NGOs water in
deeply understanding of community problems. Most of NGOs is only focus on finishing
the physical activities and timelines. They rush to complete the project based
on donors grant contract. NGOs lose their main roles to empower the community in
project engagement, self of belonging, resources awareness and sustainability
plan. Some NGOs failed to increase community awareness in end of the project.
Government Action Forward
Local government (DSAS) needs to maintain
regular communication with GMF. Strengthen ordinary supervision into GMF
management on water system. Develop monitoring system to assure GMF performs
their roles in maintaining the infrastructures, managing the community financial
supports and taking quick action when GMF needed. Conduct monthly and quarterly
inspections to GMF organisation that aims to guarantee sustainability of GMF
management.
Government of Timor-Leste (Ministry
of Public Work under DNSAS) is necessary need to review the water regulation (Decreto-Lei)
No 4/2004 in national level. The regulation is out of date and isn’t
reflecting the water supply need for community in rural areas. The main issue is
to review sustainability and maintenance of water infrastructures. According to
us, Government is needed to provide subvention to GMF in order to support infrastructure
maintenances in rural site. It is also aims to avoid government yearly over
spending for water construction particularly in rural areas.
NGOs Water approach
NGOs water is necessarily to conduct
a deeply assessment on community needs. Understand
community problem and facilitate them on find the solutions. There are some
actions that need to considerer:
Training and capacity building. Design a module training that
reflect GMF needs such as: GMF finance and administration, GMF job
descriptions, GMF technical maintenance, GMF meeting organizing and GMF fund
collection. The modules should base on community need assessment. Avoid the
module that unnecessary. The capacity building has to ensure the GMF members
understand, aware, capable and professionally implemented. NGOs need to review the training activities to
assure the output, outcomes and indicator that have achieved.
Community water regulation. NGOs water needs to have regularly
communication with local leaders, community policy, community members and DSAS
to discuss the water regulation. Take and involve all parties to have regular
discussion, opinion and inputs. Formalize the regulation throughout formal
ceremony signing combine with a local traditional law such as “Tara Bandu”. The
traditional law is more effective and have coercive impact to maintain the
water infrastructures.
Community low cost support. Support and facilitate GMF to
conduct an assessment on water users. The assessment based on community household’s
funds collection. NGOs facilitate the GMF to conduct door to door
socialization. Informed the community
the aim of fund collection, managing the fund, expenses and reports. Support
GMF in managing GMF finance and bookkeeping. Accompany GMF during monthly fund
collection and its monthly reports to community.
Regularly connecting DSAS and GMF. NGOs have a main responsible to connect
an effective communication between GMF and DSAS. That activity is aim to establish
effective cooperation and promote regularly meeting between DSAS and GMF.
Ensure DSAS has regular site visit, supervision and monitoring GMF activities
by monthly and quarterly.
Regular reports to DSAS. NGOs water have a compulsion and responsibility
to provide regular and monthly reports to DSAS. It is enable DSAS to have comprehensive
information and well informed of a water activity progress. DSAS will use the reports
to acts within a collaboration, communication, monitoring, supervision during
and post construction.
