Southern Africa

Angola

1. Why did you choose to work in Angola?

2. What are your plans in Angola?

3. What is the current water and sanitation situation in Angola?

4. What are the key challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Angola?

5. What impact do you think WaterAid can have in Angola?

Lesotho

6. Why did you choose to work in Lesotho?

7. What are your plans in Lesotho?

8. What is the current water and sanitation situation in Lesotho?

9. What are the key challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Lesotho?

10. What impact do you think WaterAid can have in Lesotho?

Swaziland

11. Why did you choose to work in Swaziland?

12. What are your plans in Swaziland?

13. What is the current water and sanitation situation in Swaziland?

14. What are the key challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Swaziland?

15. What impact do you think WaterAid can have in Swaziland?

Angola

1. Why did you choose to work in Angola?

WaterAid made the decision to work in Angola after studying a number of needs-based criteria. Angola is currently ranked 143 out of 177 countries on the UN Human Development Index, with the UN Development Report (2006) describing the country as having some of the lowest improved water coverage in the world as well as one of the highest incidences of diarrhoeal diseases.

After many years of internal fighting, Angola is now a post-conflict country and WaterAid hopes to work with communities, civil society organisations and the government to try and improve the water and sanitation situation within the country.
 

2. What are your plans in Angola?

WaterAid hopes to work closely with key players in civil society organisations, non governmental organisations and the government to influence policy, technology choices and delivery approaches to water and sanitation.

We aim to support local governments to develop appropriate plans and encourage finance to be directed towards the poorest and most marginalised communities. We also hope to work with the national government to build capacity within the water and sanitation sector, as well as looking to gather reliable data on water resources through the development of techniques such as water point mapping.

3. What is the current water and sanitation situation in Angola?

Water and sanitation coverage estimates vary greatly, with no comprehensive surveys having been carried out since 1996. Government figures put water coverage at 30% and sanitation at 16%. However, WHO/Unicef figures put water coverage at 51% and sanitation at 50%. Taking either of these estimates, it is clear that the water and sanitation sector requires considerable development and the introduction of techniques such as water point mapping to gain an accurate picture of the country’s needs would be hugely beneficial.

4. What are the key challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Angola?

There are a number of specific challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Angola. A key one will be working in a post-conflict country where rapid change is underway, needs are high and human/institutional capacity in the water and sanitation sector is limited. Liaison between the government and civil society will be required to develop relations between the two so that progress can be made in the water and sanitation sector.

WaterAid will also need to influence bias away from attractive high value investments by donors and instead promote investment of funds into sustainable technologies and projects that reach the most vulnerable communities.

5. What impact do you think WaterAid can have in Angola?

WaterAid can have an impact in Angola by influencing key players in the water and sanitation sector to distribute resources equitably and by focusing on a pro-poor approach to ensure those most in need gain access to water, sanitation and improved hygiene. By creating strong partnerships with local agencies, civil society organisations, other non governmental organisations and the Government, we hope to build capacity in the water and sanitation sector and ensure communities gain access to sustainable, appropriate technologies.

Lesotho

6. Why did you choose to work in Lesotho?

WaterAid’s decision to work in Lesotho was made principally on a needs basis. Lesotho is currently ranked 156 out of 177 countries on the Human Development Index. Although it actually exports water to South Africa, there are severe water supply problems within the country. Poor hygiene is also a serious issue.

There are a large number of local non governmental organisations within the country who are eager to become coordinated – particularly with regards to citizen’s rights to water - and this is an area that WaterAid believes it can work effectively in to enable more people to access safe water and sanitation.

7. What are your plans in Lesotho?

WaterAid plans to explore and develop alternative, affordable technologies, such as composting latrines, within communities. We also hope to offer support and guidance to the government in order to develop reliable monitoring systems that will find gaps in water supply and sanitation coverage and improve attention to technical faults to ensure the longevity of services.

We hope to achieve this by developing partnerships with local non governmental organisations and focusing research on water and sanitation coverage, water resource management and equity and inclusion issues surrounding people living with HIV/AIDS.

8. What is the current water and sanitation situation in Lesotho?

Water and sanitation coverage estimates vary. The Lesotho Ministry of Natural Resources suggests there is 50% coverage for water and sanitation. The WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring Programme estimates 76% coverage in urban areas and 36% in rural areas.

9. What are the key challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Lesotho?

One of the key challenges facing WaterAid working in Lesotho will be influencing government and other organisations to protect and promote the human right to water.

Within communities, challenges will involve promoting ownership of water and sanitation technologies and developing improved hygiene habits.

10. What impact do you think WaterAid can have in Lesotho?

WaterAid can have an impact in Lesotho by championing the human right to water and encouraging others to take a similar stance. We hope to improve hygiene behaviour practices and develop civil society and community involvement – attempting to build a sense of ownership of water and sanitation services. This can be achieved by working with civil society organisations and other local and international non governmental organisations to implement appropriate and affordable technologies and by offering support to the government in developing its capacity in the water and sanitation sector.

Swaziland

11. Why did you choose to work in Swaziland?

Swaziland was selected as a new WaterAid country programme principally on a needs basis. Swaziland is often misleadingly classed as a middle-income country when in fact it is ranked as low as 142 out of 177 countries on the Human Development Index and has a Gross Domestic Product of 0.7% compared to an average of 1.5% for sub-Saharan countries. Income is unevenly distributed with two thirds of the population living below the poverty line and 40% reliant on food aid.

Water and sanitation coverage is poor in the country and capacity to improve the situation is low, with poor implementation of policies and a lack of government funding. Swaziland also has the highest HIV infection rate in the world with over 40% of the population affected.

12. What are your plans in Swaziland?

WaterAid’s key aims within the country will be to introduce pro-poor, sustainable technologies – particularly in rural areas – and to influence the government on prioritising water and sanitation sector needs. We hope to strengthen and support civil society capacity in technology use and approaches. We also aim to conduct action research on appropriate, accessible water and sanitation technologies for the most vulnerable people – particularly those living with HIV/AIDS – and to influence the water and sanitation sector on how to reach these communities.

13. What is the current water and sanitation situation in Swaziland?

According to the WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring Programme figures (2008), water coverage is about 60% in the country. However, it is much lower in rural areas (24%) compared to urban areas (76%). The pattern is similar with sanitation, with an estimated coverage of 50%, but with 46% in rural areas compared to 64% in urban areas. These figures highlight a real disparity in water and sanitation services throughout the country.

14. What are the key challenges that WaterAid is likely to face in Swaziland?

One of the key challenges for WaterAid working in Swaziland will be trying to overcome the unequal distribution of water and sanitation coverage between urban and rural areas within the country. As there is an absence of policies and practices in the water and sanitation sector WaterAid will need to influence and support civil society and governmental organisations to develop the capacity and ability to deal with problems relating to water and sanitation.

The HIV/AIDS crisis affecting the country will also be a huge challenge for WaterAid as we attempt to influence those working within the water and sanitation sector to reach out to these communities.

15. What impact do you think WaterAid can have in Swaziland?

WaterAid plans to use our knowledge of pro-poor, affordable and sustainable technologies to influence and strengthen civil society and build strong partnerships with local and international non governmental organisations. We also hope to support and encourage the government to prioritise water and sanitation in poverty reduction plans. Given the small size of the country, we believe WaterAid can have a relatively large impact in a short period of time.