When I read the summary of the book “ The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Illand So Little Goodby William Easterly” I found that what he has described is really what happening in the ground with donor’s funds. It true that the successful investment is on Health care some time.
I would like to mention one of the most successful project in according to my own view. An NGO in Malakal Upper Nile State is running two projects one of this projects is to produce a clean water. They have established filtering stations along the river Nile, three water stations have been made so far, with a good quality and pure water.
Even though it is not possible to connect each house with a water pipe, the organization established water distribution points and the water is pumped from the river to the filters and from the filters via pipes to the different points in some areas around Malakal town in order to enable local people to have the access for the clean water this project works fine and at least three areas has around 12 water points.
The second project is making privet and public toilets in different areas around the town.
Due to these efforts I notice that during the outbreak of cholera this year a few number of people have been affected compared with the two last years. For the simple reason that a reasonable number of people have the access for clean water and toilets. But what I am not sure about is the sustainability of these projects because this NGO will soon or later leave.
Is this effort recognized by the local government? Where is the role of the local government and the local people? Who is going to take care of this water stations in term of fuels supplies to run the generators to pump the water from the river to the filters? Who will clean from time to time the public toilets? Who will carry on the maintenance for the water pumps, pipes and the toilets?
I think the government may take over the projects if it has the feeling (ownership) that such projects are for them and should be own and maintains by them. Or the local communities can take care of it if they really feel these projects are for them, then, the next question is how to let the local government and the local people have or develop the ownership?
Back to the question who will carry on the maintenance? I have been asking myself this question for the simple reason that there is no plumbing or water and sanitation section at the (Malakal Vocational Training Center) MVTC. This is the challenge for the vocational centers in Southern Sudan or maybe it is an opportunity who knows.
Form the development point of view it is important that people should have the access for clean water, good health care and education. If the donors want this projects to be sustainable, they have to work hard in the capacity building of the local people and they have to a sure there are skilled people who will carry and maintains the projects during and after the contract of the project is over.
From the above mentioned examples. In my local area such projects meets the need of the local communities and help the local government by allowing them to handle some others issues. But what I think is important it is not enough just for the government to sign the deals with donors only. The role of the government should be furthermore than that.
The local authorities should be asked for the plans that grantee the sustainability of such projects after the end of the donor’s contracts and the government have to work side by side with the NGOs or donors until the project is handled to them.
The local people need to be involved in such project this may be in form of labour or any form of involvement direct or indirect. From my experience I remember one of the project that a project for cleaning the town and opening the channels for the water. This project it works before and during the rain season it was run by one of the international NGO and partnership with youth local NGOs, in which the local people were involved to work by themselves to clean the town. This project was called food for work i.e. you work and at the end of the day you are given food items and it works fine many people were involved in this activity.
Conclusion
The government should be involved direct or indirect in the development projects that are funned by the donors, this will enable the government to contribute with the ideas on how they want this projects to be implanted and it will let the government follow up the projects in regular bases. When the project is over the government will be ready to take over the projects.
Local industries, companies and people should be trained and engaged the such projects, this will enable them to contribute effectively in the implementation of the projects and it will raise their leaving in creating job opportunities.
Daniel Ruben Oct 2008
