1

Water Services Trust Fund

List of Planned Activities

January – June 2008

Table of Contents

1Water Supply

1.1Water Supply: Adapted Solutions

1.1.1Characteristics of Low-Income Areas

1.1.2Technical Options

1.2Availability of Water

1.3Evaluation of Kiosk Drawings and Technical Constraints

1.4Water Quality of Private Boreholes

1.5To Do’s

2Sanitation

2.1The WSTF Sanitation Approach

2.1.1Public Sanitation

2.1.2Affordable Household-Level Sanitation Solutions

2.2Support Provided to WSPs

2.3Principles of the Public Sanitation Facility Management Concept

2.3.1Identification of Public Sanitation Facility Operators

2.3.2Training of Public Sanitation Facility Operators

2.3.3Management of Public Sanitation Facilities

2.4Public Sanitation: Some Technical Issues

2.5Cooperation with Partner Institutions

2.6Sanitation in Water Supply Projects

2.7To Do’s

3Definitions and Standards

3.1Defining Low-Income Areas

3.2Need for Technical Standards

3.3Need for Service Delivery Standards

3.3.1Coverage

3.3.2Mixed Supply Systems

3.3.3Need for Delivery Standards

4The Pro-Poor Urban Database/Information System

4.1Need for a Pro-Poor Information System

4.2Preparatory Activities and Data Collection

4.3Contacting Data Experts

4.4The WSTF Management Information System (MIS)

4.5Proposals to be Considered

4.6Issues to be Discussed

4.7To Do’s

5Documents to be Prepared for the Urban Poor WSS Toolkit

5.1Need for a Urban Poor WSS Toolkit

5.2The WSTF Project Cycle

5.2.1Project Proposal Preparation

5.2.2Project Implementation

5.2.3Project Operation

5.2.4Project Evaluation

5.3The Urban Project Cycle and the Toolkit

5.3.1Sensitisation of the WSBs and WSPs

5.4Specific Issues which will be Addressed by the Toolkit

5.4.1Proposal Preparation

5.4.2Project Monitoring

5.4.3Construction Supervision

5.4.4Task Team and Stakeholders

5.4.5Community Mobilisation and Sensitisation

5.4.6Identification, Selection, Training and Management of Operators

5.4.7Project Reporting (WSP > WSTF)

5.4.8Access to Land

5.4.9Kiosk Sites

5.4.10Outsourcing of Activities

5.4.11Disbursement, Financial Management and Procurement

5.4.12Public Sanitation

5.4.13Kiosk/Public Sanitation Facility Operation

5.5To Do’s

5.5.1Evaluation of Tools and Procedures by a Legal Expert

5.5.2Procurement and Financial control

5.5.3Technical works

5.5.4Accompanying Measures

6The WSTF Urban Poor Concept and the Project Cycle

6.1Introduction

6.2Projects and Infrastructure Funded by the WSTF

6.3Support Offered by the WSTF

6.4Preparing the Roll Out of WSTF-Funded Urban Projects

6.5WSTF, WSBs and WSPs

6.6Note Regarding the UPC

6.7Outputs Related to the UPC and the Project Cycle

7Internal WSTF Activities

7.1List of WSTF-Oriented Activities

7.2Development of the WSTF Management Information System (MIS)

7.3Internal Communication

7.4A Communication Concept for the WSTF

7.5The WSTF Brochure

7.6The WSTF Urban Web Pages

7.7WSTF Reference Centre and Literature CD-Rom

7.8The WSTF Photo Archive

8Pilot Project Specific Activities

8.1Activities to be Carried out by the WSTF

8.2Activities to be Carried out by the WSPs

9Certain Issues Concerning WSTF-Funded Projects

9.1Community-Managed WSS Projects

9.2Community Participation

9.3Customer Care

9.4Cross-Cutting Issues

9.5Access to Safe Water is a Human Right

9.6Water and Sanitation Projects, Peace Building and Reconciliation

10Remaining Issues and Ideas

10.1To Do’s

10.2Ideas and Thoughts

Glossary and List of Abbreviations

1Water Supply

1.1Water Supply: Adapted Solutions

1.1.1Characteristics of Low-Income Areas

The WSTF has to develop a set of adapted water supply concepts (technologies and management concepts) which are adapted to the various types of low-income areas. It this context is important to note that in some towns (for example, Webuye) low-income areas arerelatively small with populations ranging between 30 and 200 persons. Kiosk are not a suitable solution for such low-income areas. The question one has to ask is whether the WSTF should finance projects that allow the SP to reach all low-income areas, including small areas.

There is need, therefore, to develop definitions and descriptions of low-income areas. On the basis of these descriptions the WSTF has to decide which areas are suitable for WSTF funding.

1.1.2Technical Options

Adapted technical and management solutions should consider such factors as:

  • Climate.
  • Levels of vandalism.
  • Costs (per capita).

The following technological options should be considered:

  • Closed kiosks (for areas with high levels of vandalism and areas where operator incomes have to be supplemented by the sale of groceries).
  • Open kiosks with and without shelter (in areas with high average temperatures, or in case the WSP wishes to keep per capita investment cots low).
  • Yard taps (enabling the WSP to reach small low-income areas). The yard tap standard still has to be designed by the WSTF.
  • Mobile (pre-cast) kiosks that can be removed and transported to areas where they are needed.

The WSTF may also have to assess the feasibility of introducing technologies such as rainwater harvesting.

The WSTF and the WSPs may also have to consider a policy of social domestic connections.

1.2Availability of Water

During the prioritisation of potential project areas and during the preparation of the Application Form for the WSTF, the WSP has to assess carefully whether the supply of safe water will be sufficient and reliable.

In areas where the WSP has to ration water or where it has introduced a water distribution concept kiosks can be equipped with a (3 or 5m3) overhead tank (Kentank).

WSPs have to show that their water rationing/distribution concept is pro-poor.

The assessment of supply constraints has to be included by the WSP in the WSTF Application Form.

1.3Evaluation of Kiosk Drawings and Technical Constraints

The kiosks constructed under the WSTF and GTZ/DED pilot projects will have to be evaluated. This evaluation will have to focus upon:

  • Technical defects (choice of materials, design errors).
  • Ergonomic aspects.
  • Kiosk hygiene (is it easy to keep the kiosk clean?).
  • Whether the structure was built according to drawing.

The evaluation should also draw conclusions with regard to:

  • Construction supervision (by the WSP, the WSTF, etc.).
  • Procurement of materials.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using direct labour (local masons, etc.)instead of local contractors.

The WSTF should develop a guideline/tool for the customer-aided evaluation (technical, hygienic, ergonomic) of the kiosks.

The following stakeholders should be involved in the customer-aided technical evaluation:

  • Technical staff of the WSP.
  • The Kiosk Operator.
  • Kiosk customers.
  • The Public Health Officer and/or the Community Health Education Worker (CHEW).
  • The architect who prepared the kiosk drawings.
  • The Contractor.

This guideline/tool should include a set of recording sheets. These sheets should enable the evaluators to record the observations and proposals of all stakeholders.

The technical evaluation should be carried out 3 months after commissioning.

The technical evaluation should be preceded by an assessment of the technical drawings during the construction phase. Such an assessment should allow the WSTF to identify omissions and shortcomings.

1.4Water Quality of Private Boreholes

The WSTF, the WSBs and the WSPs have to develop an app strategy/guideline with regard to the water quality of the alternative (non-WSP) sources and outlets used by the residents of the areas benefitting ffrom WSTF-funded projects.

The development of the approach should take the following issues into account:

  • What should be the policy of the WSP towards private boreholes operating (selling water) within (potential) project areas?
  • Are the WSP and/or the WSB allowed to carry out water tests at private boreholes and protected wells?
  • What is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health (Public Health Officer)?
  • How do we test the water quality of the private boreholes?
  • What measures need to be taken if the water is found to be of poor quality?

1.5To Do’s

Discuss technicalities of the kiosk drawing with the WSTF Engineer.

  • Ask for the WSTF technical report.
  • Develop a Customer-Aided Design (CuAD) approach.
  • The CuAD approach has to be integrated in the Urban Poor Concept (UPC).

2Sanitation

2.1The WSTF Sanitation Approach

2.1.1Public Sanitation

The focus of WSTF-funded sanitation project will be on the construction and operation of innovative and environmentally-friendly public sanitation facilities.

2.1.2Affordable Household-Level Sanitation Solutions

At a later stage, the WSTF may decide to develop, together with the GTZ Ecosan project, an affordable, sustainable and environmentally friendly offsite & onsite sanitation concept for unplanned low-income areas. This concept should be based upon the principle that sanitation remains a decision of the house owner.

Currently household level Ecosan solutions still cost between KSh 40,000 and KSh 60,000. The challenge will be to develop an affordable Ecosan solution for low-income areas.

The WSTF sanitation approach will be explained in more detail in a sanitation position paper, which will be prepared by the WSTF.

2.2Support Provided to WSPs

The WSTF is developing, together with a a number of WSPs:

  • A public sanitation facility management/operation concept for the WSPs.
  • A public sanitation facility sensitisation concept.
  • A procedure for the identification, selection and training of Public Sanitation Facility Operators.

The concepts and procedures will be developed on the basis of the experiences acquired with the public sanitation facilities in Naivasha and in Kibera, Nairobi.

2.3Principles of the Public Sanitation Facility Management Concept

The public sanitation facility management system should be based upon the following principles:

  • The WSP signs a contract with the Operator.
  • The Operator is charged by the WSP according to the meter readings.
  • The Operator sells services (water, access to showers and toilets) for a tariff, which has been set by the Company.
  • The Operator can use the biogas free of charge.

2.3.1Identification of Public Sanitation Facility Operators

With regard to the identification and selection of Operators, the management of NAIVAWASS has proposed the following procedure:

  • Advertising, in the local media, of the position of Public Sanitation Facility Operator.
  • Short listing of applicants.
  • Explaining the business to applicants (services to be rendered to customers, customer complaints procedure security, public health, regular inspections carried by the WSP and the PHO, operation and maintenance, charges, revenue and revenue collections, security deposit, contractual arrangements, etc.).
  • Selecting the Operator.
  • Training the Operator.
  • Signing of the WSP – Operator contract.
  • On-the-job training by the WSP and GTZ experts.

It should be noted that the profile and Operator identification procedure,areto some extent determined by the use of the biogas.

The WSTF will prepare a questionnaire that can be used by the WSP to assess whether candidates meet the requirements of the Company.

2.3.2Training of Public Sanitation Facility Operators

With regard to the training of Public Sanitation Facility Operators, a number of questions have to be asked:

  • Should Operators of public sanitation facilities receive the same training as the Water Kiosk Operators?
  • Can the training – or part of the training – be outsourced? For example, the Kenya Water Institute (KWI) could be asked to take care of specific parts of the training programme.
  • Should WSP staff participate in the training programme?

2.3.3Management of Public Sanitation Facilities

As far as the operation of the public sanitation facilities are concerned, the following issues have to be addressed:

  • Should the WSP ask for the payment of a security deposit by the Operator?
  • Should the Operator pay sewerage charges?
  • What is the impact of the various ways in which the biogas is used upon the public sanitation management concept?
  • How should the Operator be charged by the WSP?
  • Is there need to develop a special customer complaints form (to be kept at the facility) for public sanitation facilities?
  • Should customers be charged the same amount for a short call as for a long call?
  • Should the Operator be allowed to sell bottles of water at his public sanitation facility water kiosk?

2.4Public Sanitation: Some Technical Issues

The public sanitation pilot projects in Naivasha and in Kiserian, have shown the need to:

  • Consider space requirements.
  • Assess whether a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution has been found for the disposal of sludge, before a project is approved.This means, that in some cases the suitability of two sites have to be assessed.
  • Prepare a public sanitation site selection guideline which includes a set of technical, environmental, public health, social and marketing criteria.
  • Should the facility be connected to the electricity grid?

2.5Cooperation with Partner Institutions

The development of a sanitation approach will have to take place in close cooperation with various Government ministries, as different ministries have different responsibilities:

  • Technical standards of sanitation facilities are the responsibility of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI).
  • Sanitation-related public health guidelines and promotion (for example, the promotion of hand washing) are the responsibility of the Ministry of Health (MoH).
  • Education related to sanitation and the development of educational materials, are the responsibility of the Ministry of Education (MoE).

2.6Sanitation in Water Supply Projects

The WSTF should consider embedding an adequate and affordable sanitation promotion programme in all the water supply projects it is funding. The WSPs will have to include such programmes in their project proposals.

The WSTF, together with other stakeholders, will develop such a programme.

2.7To Do’s

WSTF and the GTZ Ecosan team should organise a meeting or workshop to discuss the use of biogas. A clear decision on the use of the biogas is important as it has consequences for the operation of the facility and upon the identification and selection of the Operator. Technical and cultural constraints and opportunities should be given consideration.

3Definitions and Standards

3.1Defining Low-Income Areas

The WSTF aims to make safe water accessible to the urban poor. It will be important, therefore, to establish where within cities and towns the urban poor are living who can be reached by the WSPs, through WSTF-funded projects. A set of descriptions and definitions will have to be prepared on the basis of field visits and discussions with experts and urban residents. These descriptions and definitions should consider the following criteria:

  • Income levels and patterns of social and economic differentiation.
  • History and legal status of the area.
  • Layout of the area and level of planning.
  • Development plans covering/affecting the area.
  • Patterns of land ownership (there has to be sufficient space to construct kiosks and lay the network extensions).
  • Patterns of house ownership.
  • Population density and population size.
  • Current water supply situation.
  • Current sanitation situation.
  • Distance to the distribution network (the area has to be reachable).
  • Sub-centres of main towns should not be overlooked.

3.2Need for Technical Standards

In order contribute the attainment of the MDGs and to ensure that the human right – access to safe water – is given serious consideration, a set of water supply and sanitation (design) standards have to be developed. These standards should consider;

  • Climatic variations.
  • Variation in the levels of vandalism.
  • Hygienic aspects (can kiosks be kept clean?).
  • Ergonomic aspects and user-friendliness.
  • Technical maintenance and repair.
  • Total and per capita investment costs.
  • Number of users.
  • Coverage requirements.
  • Environmental impact of the WSS infrastructure.
  • Per capita cost of WSTF-funded projects.
  • Coverage and adequate water supply:

3.3Need for Service Delivery Standards

3.3.1Coverage

The definition of coverage developed by MWI has to be operationalised in order to calculate coverage levels using the data stored in the pro-poor urban information system.

3.3.2Mixed Supply Systems

If low-income areas get connected to the water distribution network and supplied through water kiosks, a demand for domestic and commercial connections usually develops quite rapidly. Therefore, when preparing their proposals for the WSTF, WSPs should take such an emerging demand (market) for private connections into account. In other words, the WSTF-funded project should allow for the gradual, demand-driven development of a mixed system; water kiosks and private connections. Adopting a mixed-system approach can have implications for the design of the distribution network (size of pipes, layout of the network, etc.).

3.3.3Need for Delivery Standards

In addition to observing technical standards related to the water supply infrastructure, the WSP can only improve the water supply situation in low-income areas if it manages to adhere to certain supply, maintenance and customer care standards. Standards have to apply to (have to be developed for) the following:

  • Water quality.
  • Water pressure.
  • Supply hours and water redistribution/rationing procedures.

The maintenance and repair concept.

  • The operation and sustainability of the infrastructure
  • Customer care.
  • Service delivery by the Kiosk Operator.
  • Business hours of kiosks.

4The Pro-Poor Urban Database/Information System

4.1Need for a Pro-Poor Information System

A pro-poor urban database is necessary:

  • In order to enable the WSPs to prepare realistic WSS project proposals for specific areas.
  • To allow the WSTF to evaluate and prioritize proposals according to a set of criteria (number of people served, per capita investment cost, current water supply situation, etc.).
  • To evaluate a specific WSTF-funded project and to assess if the project offers value for money.
  • To enable the WSS sector to assess the current WSS situation and the impact of the WSTF-funded project and their contribution to the attainment of the MDGs and the objectives specified in the Visions 2030 document.

These objectives and data uses should guide the development of the approach, methods, techniques and data collection tools.

4.2Preparatory Activities and Data Collection

The following activities have to be undertaken before data can be collected at town and area level:

  • Prepare descriptions and definitions of low-income areas.
  • Identify which areas are eligible to benefit from WSTF-funded projects.
  • Develop a set of adapted technical and infrastructure management /operation solutions.
  • Develop a area mapping/data collection concept and approach (Who should collect data? Should stakeholders be consulted during the development of the data collection tools? What are the data needs of the various stakeholders?).
  • Develop the data collection methodology and tools.
  • Train the Data Collectors.
  • Test the data collection tools.
  • Evaluate the data collection tools.
  • Prepare the database (data entry programme, user interface, etc.).
  • Scale up the data collection exercise.
  • Establish a helpdesk at the WSTF.

4.3Contacting Data Experts

In order to ensure that the pro-poor urban information system: