A new approach on how to ensure sustainability of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is under review.The feasibility of privatizing existing water supply channels to users is being discussed in a dialogue with partners. There is a school of thought that since the users, who are the first ones to notice when something goes wrong during a water supply chain, are better placed to ensure proper protection and management.“By sharing ideas and listening to different points of views, we it indicates that active users have a vital role to play in the maintenance of these water facilities so as to come up with lasting solutions to the water system,” Philbert Niyonzima, a water Officer at Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority said.He pointed out the need for the local leadership to orient good managers and establish standards for competent bidders to compete for the maintenance job.Representatives from various developmental partners attended a consultative meeting held last week and shared their views.Michiel Verweij, the leader of the WASH programme at SNV said that capacity building would be conducted among technicians and appropriate officials so that they can be able to do repairs“We not only intend to increase people’s awareness about the importance establishing these facilities, but also teach them to use and maintain them properly,” he said.He mentioned that it is not easy to address the issue as it requires looking beyond whether or not action has been taken, to consider if the facility or service is operational and positively contributing to larger development goals.SNV Rwanda works with the Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) and UNICEF to address functionality issues in the districts of Nyabihu, Musanze, Burera and Rubavu.This is done through training and coaching project staff, local authorities, and water and sanitation organisations.The major aim is to support users assume roles and responsibilities in the operation of water facilities, alongside district officials and technicians.It is argued that if users are silent about the problems they face, there is not much that can be done to solve them.Verweij says that solutions can be as simple as opening the gate to let the water flow but the process of having the gate opened can be complex, involving different actors and decision levels.
