Cambodia: Tonle Sap Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Rural sanitation - Rural water policy, institutional and capacity development - Rural water supply services

The Project has ended, with satisfactory results.

The outcomes have been largely achieved as 0.58 million people have access to safe water, and 0.23 million people have access to sanitation. More than 4,700 water points and 45,000 household latrines are operational.

The project had a gender action plan and the key indicators for gender mainstreaming in WSS programs were integrated in the M&E system. Guidelines on mainstreaming gender in RWSSH projects were drafted for MRD's consideration in 2009.

The joint development partner/government Technical Working Group for Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (TWG-RWSSH) was established in November 2007. In 2008 TWG-RWSSH initiated the development of National RWSSH Strategy through the development of joint TORs and the recruitment of a consultant team. After a long period of consultation and participatory drafting and re-drafting, the Minister, MRD, signed the final national RWSSH strategy in January 2011.

Component 1: Community mobilization and skills development

Component 2: Water supply improvement

Component 3: Sanitation improvement

Component 4: Capacity building and institutional support

Component 1:

The project delivered water and/or sanitation facilities in 859 villages (revised target) as end of April 2010. Project information dissemination meetings were organized in every project village with total participants at nearly 920,000 of which half were women. 4,477 hand pumps were installed, with 5,685 O&M management training sessions conducted. 12,273 women Water and Sanitaiton User Group board members participated (43.21% of the 28,402 total trained caretakers). All 5,685 Water and Sanitation User Group (WSUG) boards were trained on their roles and responsibilities and the water supply construction checklist (100% of established WSUGs). The project promoted five main messages: use safe water, stopp open defecation, construct and use improved latrines for a clean environment, wash hands, and care for and maintain the water points.

Component 2:

The 4,450 new water points, 257 rehabilitated wells, 27 community ponds, 5 piped-water supply systems, 1,164 rainwater collection tanks (community procurement), 982 household biosand filters, and 214 iron reduction plants were completed; through these about 580,000 people have access to safe water supply. As a direct result of this community planning process, the participants prioritized new water supply construction and sanitation improvements. It was originally assumed that all existing hand pump wells in target provinces (about 6,200) would be renovated. However, in practice this is complicated and overlaps with other donor agencies' work. Wells are also dispersed over the 5 provinces. Project implementation has thus emphasized critical coverage of water supply in selected villages to achieve better impacts. Rainwater collection tanks and Bio-Sand Filters will be used for household water security. Village selection was completed and District Officers were trained on construction. Initial water testing for all successful wells was carried out through field test kits and laboratory analysis at the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

Component 3:

The Project promoted sanitation and hygiene in the project areas. There were five mass campaigns and 5 Provincial Sanitation Forums. There were 1,583 sanitation and hygiene promotion sessions in 859 villages with more than 230,000 participants. The first round of WSUG Handbook introduction courses was conducted for WSUGs in 109 villages, in which the sanitation and hygiene promotion practices were introduced (as per the modified version of PHAST training guidelines of MRD). The public latrines component was cancelled and has been taken up under the Second Rural water Supply & Sanitation Project.

Component 4:

By the end of April 2010, 25 technical trainings were delivered to MRD and PDRD staff.

Equipment and material packages valued at $100,000 equivalent or more may be procured under international shopping or government procedures acceptable to ADB. Civil works estimated to cost $50,000 equivalent or more may be awarded under local competitive bidding. All civil works contracts with total value of $50,000 equivalent or more will require the presence of a project management unit member in the procurement committee for ADB approval.

Civil works contracts estimated to cost $50,000 equivalent or less may be awarded on the basis of local competitive bidding. Civil works contracts for household sanitation estimated at $50,000 equivalent or less can be procured following ADB's Guide on Community Participation in Procurement. First 2 civil works contracts in each province will be subject to ADB approval.