Project Description
Provided technical advice and support to Habitat for Humanity Fiji’s rural water, sanitation and hygiene program (WASH), in 20 communities. The program is improving access to, and management of water and sanitation services in villages and in schools. Our IWC-GU project reviewed the program delivery design, assisted withteh redesign of activities to improve the program outcomes, and built the capaity of the program delivery team to implement the program.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
IWC staff (R. Souter), and Habitat for Humanity Fiji staff, and funded by the Australian Government’s Water for Women fund.
The project benefits directly people living in 18 rural communities in Fiji (and the school children and staff at the 8 associated schools), and, more broadly benefits rural Fijians (through other actors using the program guidance documents).
Outcomes to Date
The project has equipped 18 local community WASH committees with the knowledge, skills and tools to conduct water audits of their community water supply system, including risk assessments and water testing. The information they collect is then used to develop water improvement plans. The communities are currently implentnig tese plans, to make improvements to the safety and reliability of their water supplies (SDG6.1) for example by treating water supplies, and increasing water supplies.
Project Significance
The rural WASH program is directly delvering SDG6.1 and SDG6.2 to rural populations in Fiji. The program directly engages with 18 rural communities, and 8 schools to improve water services, sanitation systems and hygiene behaviours and facilities. But the program also developed implementation guidance (which we helped to develop) which they plan to share with other implementers working with rural communities and schools across Fiji.
the project also suports SDG3 (good health and wellbeing) – this is the primary reason for providing water and sanitation services and there is a direct link between access to water, sanitation and hygiene (SDG^) and health and wellbeing.
And SDG 13 – climate action, as all water and sanitation services now must be climate resilient – they must be adapted to climate change.
SDG14 – live under water, is also directly afftecting by SDG6.2 – sanitation as inadequate sanitation is a main driver of coastal pollution.
Related Link
External link to https://habitat.org.au/water-for-women-project-fiji-improving-access-to-wash/