The Church World Service (CWS) is running a series of innovative water supply projects in Pakistan that combine infrastructure development with awareness-raising programmes.

The projects are helping improve water supplies in remote communities and others hit by natural disasters, including the 2005 earthquake. They assure sustainability by encouraging community participation, providing technical training and helping local people set up community organisations to manage the infrastructure.

Together with local agencies, CWS has restored more than 30 water supply systems and provided communities with over 400 hand pumps, more than 8,000 jerry cans and 5,000 hygiene kits. Promoting hygiene is a major component of the programmes. CWS organised inter-village competitions to encourage people to adopt more hygienic practices.

Working with the NGO Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), CWS has also set up two model villages in Sindh Province, where people from surrounding communities can learn about hygiene and how to maintain hand pumps. Interactive theatre, puppet shows, videos and radio messages have been used to raise awareness. The programmes are already producing clear benefits, with children making fewer visits to local health clinics for treatment of water-related complaints.

Web sites: CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan ; CWS - Water for All ; SPO

Source:Church World Service, 29 Sep 2008

Tags: capacity development, emergencies, hygiene promotion, information and communication, rural wash, south asia, water supply