Darvish Yu, a member of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball established the “Darvish Yu Water Fund” in collaboration with the Japan Water Forum in March 2007 to supply safe water to people who face lack and contamination of water in developing countries. He has contributed to the Fund by donating JPY 100,000 at every one of his winning games during the regular season since then.
The Fund subsidized 13 projects in 11 countries so far.

Outline of the 14th Project of the Darvish Yu Water Fund The project will be implemented in the areas highly affected by COVID-19 where a water supply system has been deteriorated and water loss takes place. Multi-stakeholders will work together to improve water supply, drive behavior changes, and establish routine hygiene practices such as handwashing to prevent infectious diseases including COVID-19.

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1.Project title

Improving Water Supply and Hygiene in COVID-19 Affected Communities in Pakistan

2.Project site

Ghar Kalay & Pirano Dag villages, Daman e Koh Union Council, Takht Bhai Tehsil, Mardan District, Khayber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan

Pakistan	Khayber Pakhtunkhwa Province

３．Project period

November 2020 to May 2021

４．Local partner

Integrated Regional Support Program (IRSP)
www.irsp.org.pk

５．Water problems at the target site

• Though a simple water system was installed in the project site in the past, it is now deteriorated. Water leakages have been detected in various places and the villagers lack an adequate water supply. They also rarely practice hand-washing.
• In such circumstances, COVID-19 has spread around the project site.
• Local municipality administration has been making temporary repairs of the water system. However, they are unable to solve the cause of the problems because they face financial difficulties resulting from COVID-19 outbreaks. Water and hygiene conditions in the area are still getting worse.
• The communities are highly vulnerable to infectious diseases including COVID-19 and other shocks because there still isn’t an adequate supply of clean water and handwashing practice essential for tackling such diseases.

People going down to get the water while the water is not provided due to temporary repairs

６．Project Description

• Forming local committees which supervise and support the project, and improving existing waterworks in collaboration with local municipality administration and elected representatives
  • Replacement of valves that control water pressure and flow rate (four locations)
  • Installation of voltage regulators to ensure necessary power for the pumps (two locations)
• Constructing hand-washing facilities and launching hygiene promotion programs
  • Construction of public hand-washing facilities (two locations)
  • Hygiene promotion: Organizing awareness-raising and education sessions on handwashing, menstrual hygiene management, the importance of water and the roles of waterworks. (60 sessions in total)
• Strengthening communities to improve sustainability of the waterworks

７．Prospected beneficiaries

More than 600 households in the two villages, namely Ghar Kalay & Pirano Dag

８．Expected outcomes

• Each household (more than 600 in total) will have access to a sufficient supply of clean water.
• In addition to the above, popularized proper hygiene practices such as handwashing practice will help to prevent infectious diseases like COVID-19 and improve villagers’ health. A decrease in diseases caused by poor hygiene (diarrhea, scabies) will also reduce their medical costs.
• The project will improve people’s lives and contribute to building resilient and inclusive communities.

◇This project contributes to the progress towards achievement of SDGs*. ◇

Project outcome

*The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a set of international development goals from 2016 to 2030, which was adopted by the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in September 2015.　
⇒　Related SDGs

▼For more information about the Fund and past projects, please visit the following website▼

https://www.waterforum.jp/en/what_we_do/grass_roots_projects/darvish

【Contact info】
Japan Water Forum
TEL: +81-(0)3-5645-8040 Fax: +81-(0)3-5645-8041
E-mail: office [at] waterforum.jp ※Please change [at] to @

(Reported by Shigenori Asai, Director and Miyo Tabata, Assistant Manager)