Community participation and management is important for a rural water supply system It is essential to involve the community at an early stage in the choice of type and location of the water scheme and discuss contributions in kind or cash and a management model, to be fully aware and empowered to operate and maintain the system. Community management has its limitation, not only in terms of scale but also in capacities. In the process of conceptualizing this project prior to this proposal, AID/SL has had extensive consultations with the management of Gendema CHC, the chiefdom administration and the council members. AID/SL has received the consent of the community to solicit this project, and the community has put in place a model for managing the Water Supply System, when it will be finally decommissioned to them. The hospital management will take ownership of the system, and it will designate officials for the exclusive maintenance of the system. These officials will be part of the beneficiary group receiving training in the energy management and operations of the Water System.

Our knowledge management approach will involve a thorough and meticulous stock taking of all processes in the successful implementation of the water supply system from inception to conclusion. We will collate all necessary information at every step, including difficulties encountered and as well as any inadvertent advantages encountered in project implementation. These will be useful in any future attempts in implementing similar projects.