ZimWASH: addressing the water and sanitation needs of the rural poor in the context of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe

The ZimWASH project aims to strengthen the capacities of civil society organisations and local government in Zimbabwe in providing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services targeting the needs of the rural poor. It is one of the projects selected recently for funding by the European Union Water Facility (EU-WF), and is co-financed by UNICEF Zimbabwe. The project, which will run for five years, will be implemented by UNICEF Zimbabwe together with the Mvuramanzi Trust, the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD) and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. A start-up workshop was held in Harare, Zimbabwe in September 2006.

The core of the ZimWASH project is the building of capacity of civil society organisations and local governments at district level for the integrated planning and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services. Particular attention will be given to mainstreaming livelihoods’ issues into the planning cycle. This will be done, for example, by looking at the water needs of the rural poor for their livelihoods and providing services that are responsive to these needs, e.g. by providing systems which allow the irrigation of nutritional gardens and bring in water for cattle. The special needs of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS are a priority. The project will give direct support in the provision of WASH services to around 500,000 Zimbabweans in six districts. But even more importantly, by building capacity at district level it is expected that there will be a multiplier effect with local governments able to replicate a livelihoods approach to service delivery. Documentation of lessons learnt and dissemination within the sector are also important project components.

For more information see the UNICEF web siteand an earlier PRODWAT newsletter article