Context/Project Rationale:

? There is a problem of water supply at Mgazini Village
? The existing water supply infrastructure is in state of disrepair
? The water source at Lihanje Forest, which is shared by six villages is also degraded
? Therefore, the proposed project aims at realizing the following objectives:
(i) Sensitize the village community that the water supply is theirs. They are responsible for operation and maintenance instead of waiting for the government
(ii) To sensitize villagers in the community forest adjacent villages to conserve the Lihanje forest because it is a source of water, local medicines and amelioration of local weather
(iii) In addition, the forest is responsible for absorbing excess carbon in the atmosphere, which reduce global warming
(iv) Promote agroforestry practices to reduce extraction pressure to the community forest for wood fuel.
(v) To strengthen the Village Environment Management Committees in the ward to play their conservation oversight roles with renewed energy.

About the Proponent:

Kilagano SACCOS is a CSO. It was registered in 2003. Its primary objective is to promote the culture of savings and credit for the people of Kilagano ward. The SACCOS has the capacity to undertake development projects like rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure, conservation of the community forest and agro-forestry practices. Its head office is at Mgazini Ward. Under this project, the SACCOS will be supported to realize the key objectives of the project. In addition, the project will strengthen the institution by supporting it with working tools and instruments to increase their operational capacity.

Project Objectives:

To rehabilitate and expand existing water supply infrastructure with a view to supplying clean and safe water to over 4,860 villagers.

Specific Objectives:

? Rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure at Mgazini Village
? To conserve the community forest of Lihanje, which is the water source for six surrounding villages
? To promote agro-forestry activities with the view to reducing extraction pressure for wood-fuel
to the community forest

Implementation Strategies:

? To rehabilitate and expand existing gravity water supply infrastructure to cover 4,860 people
? Sensitize conservation of Lihanje community forest, which is a source of water for the whole ward
? Strengthen the water committee through training to increase their oversight capacity. The Committee will have equal numbers of men and women chaired by preferable a woman.
? Build the technical capacity of village water technicians who will be responsible for the project?s O & M.
? Select, train and engage two local technicians (one woman, another, a man) for O & M on daily basis

Sustainability Strategies:

? This is a gravity water supply scheme. Its operation costs are very low, which is in itself a factor for long time functioning
? Training of two village water technicians will ensure an orderly O & M for the project
? A strong water committee will ensure villages use water in a sustainable way.
? Wananchi will be required to pay a modest user fees into a water fund. The water fund will be used to buy spares and pay allowance to village water technicians.