JWF Fund 2018 Follow-up : Maleule Boreholes Repair Project (Malawi) - News

Outline of the Follow-up observations
Our priority is placed on responding to the issues and needs of the field in an efficient and effective way.
Since 2015, we have been carrying out follow-up observations one year after the completion of projects in order to understand changing issues and needs.

In FY 2019, the fifth year since we started our follow-up observations, we asked five grass-roots organizations in the Lao PDR, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda (2 projects) that had been granted the JWF Fund 2018 to conduct follow-up observations. We received consent from the organizations in all the locations except the Lao PDR. With this cooperation, we have been able to conduct our one-year follow-up observations.

This page shows the project Maleule Boreholes Repair Project in Malawi.

Maleule Boreholes Repair Project

Outlines of the project supported by the JWF Fund 2018
・Organization: Centre for Climate Change and Environment Management (CCCEM) (#172)
・Countries/Area: Malawi/Blantyre District
・Project period: October 2018 to February 2019
・Number of beneficiaries: 1,350 (350 women, 300 men, 700 children)
・Cost: $1,543 ($996: JWF funds, $249: beneficiaries, and $298: CCCEM)

Background:
In the Maleule community, there are five shared boreholes but three out of five are in our operation. When the rids were removed to investigate the status, it was because of lowering water table during the dry season, under influence by climate change. Over 2000 residents thus use the only functioning two shared boreholes, spending their valued time on the queue. People from Chinyonga Village, however, walk a distance of more than five kilometers to draw safe water, as they resigned to stand in a long queue.

Existing wells to be repaired

Main activities:
・Repair of two existing wells
・Repair of drainage ditches of wells and surrounding facilities and laundry facilities
・Establishment of a well management committee
・Training on maintenance and management
・Training on water, sanitation and financing
・Water quality test

JWFF2018_172_d

Repair of wells


Completed wells, wash stations and drainage ditches	Women using finished wells

Follow-up observation in 2020
Results of the survey conducted by Ms. Rhoda Mollande of the CCCEM are as follows:

Curent situations of the repaired 2 boreholes
– The two boreholes are working as planned and users can get enough safe drinking water throughout the year.
– However, one borehole had stopped working when Ms. Mollande visited the community on 12 October 2019. Because the materials were of poor quality, the pipe inside the borehole had burst and water was not coming out. The community bought another, stronger pipe in town using money that users contributed monthly. Now the community can access safe water.

Operation and maintenance system
– A well management committee manages the boreholes. They collect monthly contributions from users and close the borehole at night. The contributions are kept by the treasurer and made available for loans that are paid back with interest. Some members of the community borrow funds as capital to start businesses, while others borrow money when they face challenges beyond their capacity, such as flooding, hunger, a need for transport to hospital, or for funerals.
With regard to human resources, two people were trained during the project period to do minor repairs. For major repairs that require technical skills, they hire the services of outside specialists, paid for with the users’ contributions.

Changes of the beneficiaries
– People clean their surrounding environment. They also keep their water covered after drawing it from the boreholes.
– Since the training, no case of water-borne disease has been reported in this community.
– Because residents are able to get water whenever they want, they can manage their time and better plan daily activities and housework.
– The water supply helped in the implementation by the community of a school meal program. Women can go to the school and prepare food for the children.

Voices from the beneficiaries

Mr. Jofrey Chopi, 42 years old, Chinyonga Chief

Since the project was completed, people in the community have started to clean the area around their homes and the boreholes. They cover their water containers even at home.
There have been no more cases of health problems caused by water since the project.
Conflicts between wives and husbands due to delays at the boreholes have completely ended because women are getting water close to home, without long queues. Some families are able to set up businesses because of the availability of water and the extra time available after doing housework. Taking advantage of the water, three families have taken up irrigation farming of tomatoes and onions close to the boreholes.

Mrs. Stevelia Stephano, 41 years old and Mrs. Etta Makwiti, 52 years old, chairs of borehole management committee

Every month, we assign a member to collect contributions from users and submit the money to the treasurer. Other members are assigned to organize users to clean around the boreholes. We don’t have a specific cleaning schedule. We organize cleaning when necessary.
To provide the financial and human resources needed for operating and maintaining the boreholes, a meeting is held once a month where the treasurer reports to the committee. Sometimes we call for a village meeting where we address users on the condition of the boreholes and give a financial report.
We are happy with this project and it has improved our lives in many ways.

Mr. Thokozani Zagwa, 23 years old, users of the boreholes

I use the boreholes and we are very happy with this project.
I have swept and weeded around the boreholes.
I’m able to finish more farm work than before with the help of my wife because we can go to the farm together. Before the project, I went to the farm alone because my wife did the housework and had to spend more time waiting in a long line to draw water.

Photos of the follow up observation


Maintained borehole in 2018	Women and boys at the another maintained borehole in 2018


Interview the chief	Tomato and onion farm nearby the borehole

(Reported by Shigenori Asai, Director)