MININFRA Magazine _ Unlocking rampant access to clean water in Rwanda

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AVSI; Unlocking rampant access to clean water issues in Rwanda A

VSI workers first arrived in Rwanda in July 1994 in the aftermath of the genocide to carry out emergency interventions. These emergency interventions gradually evolved into long term projects, and now with more than 20 years of experience, a solid base in Kigali and a substantial presence in the field, AVSI enjoys a good relationship with the Rwandan Government, the peoples in the districts in which it works, and international funding agencies such as USAID, the European Commission, several UN agencies (UNICEF, WFP, UNDP), and the Italian Government. AVSI Rwanda has extensive programs in 5 districts in the Southern (Kamonyi, Ruhango and Nyanza) ,Eastern (Gatsibo) and Northern (Gicumbi) provinces of the country with currently 52 local and 3 foreign staff members and 20 local partners that include schools, health centers, local Cooperative, orphanages centers and local ONGs . Its programs focus on community mobilization, sensitization, counseling, voluntary testing and HIV prevention. AVSI’s work in Rwanda follows the traditional AVSI mission and guiding values method; working directly with communities and individuals to empower them to become protagonists of their own future. This on the ground, hands-on method has allowed AVSI to become

aware of the evolving needs of the communities it serves. Since 2001 to date AVSI interventions include water and sanitation, education, health, HIV/AIDS prevention, food security and environmental protection. It has laid more than 200 km of water pipes benefiting at least 150,000 people through sustainable water projects based on gravity and hydropower. It is currently working on two more projects in the Gicumbi and Gatsibo districts to increase clean water access for rural populations. These projects are dynamic, and not only include civil works and installations, creation of water management committees, but also a public awareness campaign to improve personal and household hygiene and bring awareness to environmental issues such as reforestation. Facilitating in realizing MDGs and GoR priorities While Rwanda was recently recognized for championing and successfully accomplishing MDGs targets, GoR EDPRS 1&2 and Vision 2020, AVSI was not left out in helping the government achieve this. Its projects had given a significant contribution to the MDGs connected to Water and Sanitation (Goal 7): to halve the population with no access to safe water and to basic sanitation services. This goal is a key element also to act in favor of goals 4, 5

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as well as goal 6 (combat against HIV, malaria and other diseases). AVSI interventions are in line with Millennium Development Strategies and with the governmental priorities in order to contribute to poverty reduction and in favor of sustainable development as stated in “Vision 2020” as regards ‘WASH’ sector. Technical Partnership linked together with AVSI Psychosocial approach In 2002, AVSI reached a technical partnership deal with MLFM, with a serious cause to construct, rehabilitate and extend the WASH infrastructure responding to water and sanitation needs of Gatsibo and Gicumbi population. Until today, 5 projects are running through this partnership, and have seen about 220 km of distribution systems and the building of 204 latrines (36 for particularly vulnerable households and 168 for public places). Since 2002 to date, AVSI have been working in Gicumbi and Gatsibo Districts, where they’ve been recognized by local authorities to be partner to talk with, in order to reach goals stated in the District Development Program (DDP).

May 2016


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