Difference between revisions of "Framework for evaluation of projects in drought-prone areas"

Revision as of 10:52, 1 June 2012

This article is part of a section on resilience of WASH systems.

Technical

• Are there methods of improving construction and design of existing techniques in the area which could improve water quantity? E.g. telescopic lining in hand-dug well, leak-proof tanks, deep enough wells, spacing of sand dams in series, proper gravel packing in boreholes or around infiltration gallery, use of porous concrete.
• Are there methods of improving existing water quantity of existing facilities in-situ? E.g. jetting in bottom of hand-dug well to increase recharge.
• Are there alternative / additional technical options that would be suitable in the area, which could be introduced to increase water availability by maximizing rainwater capture over

groundwater abstraction? E.g. depending on site, any rainwater harvesting techniques such as groundwater dams or sub-surface tanks.

• Are there alternative / additional technical options that would be suitable in the area, which could be easier to construct?

E.g. infiltration wells versus standard hand-dug wells, maximizing topography when constructing dams or ponds.

• Are there alternative / additional technical options that would be suitable in the area, which could be quicker to construct?

E.g. jetted wells versus hand-dug wells.

• Are there methods of improving water quantity through increasing storage capacity?

E.g. building deeper tanks, or more tanks, or reducing evaporation.

• Are there methods of improving water availability through simpler abstraction and where maintenance and repair is more likely to occur?

E.g. no handump and household treatment, proven pump where spares available, simple technology repairable locally using local skills.

• Can water availability be improved through some type of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)?
• Can sustainability of groundwater resources be checked through analysis of recharge and water balance?
• Has water demand been correctly ascertained?
• Has the structure been properly sized and designed according to factors like demand, recharge and catchment?
• Has there been / is there sufficient technical expertise to ensure proper design and construction?
• Are there methods that can improve health and safety of people during construction and use of infrastructure?

E.g. limit hand-dug well depth prior to lining, blocks versus pre-cast concrete rings.

• Are there water quality issues that affect water availability and can these be addressed?

E.g. salinity and solar stills.

• Are there water quality issues that affect vulnerability and can these be addressed?

E.g. bacteriological & chemical issues addressed through household water treatment or water source diversification.

• Are water resources monitored continually?
• Is the project timeframe likely to help improve technical viability of infrastructure?

E.g. building sand dams over years = less silt build-up = more water available.

• Are there non-WASH but related activities that could reduce vulnerability?

E.g. drought-resistant crop varieties.

Institutional

• Is the type of management structure in place the one most likely to improve water availability given the type of infrastructure?

E.g. catchment-based communal association = pasture management = less siltation = more water stored.

• Would different implementation and management styles result in improved sustainability of infrastructure?

E.g. communal or private ownership, decentralization.

• Would different ways of managing communal supplies improve water availability?

E.g. clear regulation and audit process = more trust = money keeps flowing to keep up maintenance.

• Is the project timeframe and choice of project funding donor likely to help improve institutional management of infrastructure?
• what extent has the project truly been demand-responsive and participative, and would improving this lead to improved sustainability of infrastructure?

E.g. how much continual learning and adjustment is taking place, how much were local concerns fed into design.

• What areas of project implementation could benefit from having greater involvement of local people, especially women, and could this improve sustainability of infrastructure?

E.g. decision on technology, involvement in construction and maintenance, water resources monitoring.

• Are there areas of existing local knowledge that could be built on in project design, which would improve involvement of local people and sustainability of infrastructure?

E.g. using local artisans, heeding ownership and regulation traditions.

• What possibilities exist to improve water availability through demand management?

E.g. drip irrigation.

• Can sustainability of groundwater resources be monitored through increased cooperation (NGO, government, private sector) and application of Integrated Water Resources Management

in the area?

Financial / economic

• Are there ways of improving access to finance which can improve water availability?

E.g. micro finance, low-cost loans.

• Are there methods of improving ownership levels of infrastructure?

E.g. increased contribution including cash, private ownership.

• Are there alternative / additional technical options that would be suitable in the area, which could be cheaper to construct?

E.g. more affordable storage linings, smaller tank sizes.

• Are there alternative / additional technical options that would reduce risks of failure for investors in technology?

E.g. smaller structures.

• Are there methods of constructing infrastructure to make it more affordable and replicable to users?

E.g. staged construction.

• Are there methods of constructing infrastructure to allow for economic use of water?

E.g. private ownership, use of water for crops, living roof to reduce evaporation.

Environmental

• Are there methods of environmental control that can improve water availability?

o E.g. vegetation in runoff zone = less siltation = more water stored.

• Are there possible environmental effects of improving water availability which could increase vulnerability?

o E.g. downstream effects, degradation around permanent water points.

• Are there methods of implementation that can reduce pressure on existing pasture and water sources?

o E.g. by creating new seasonal water points away from towns.