ANNUAL REPORT FOR NGO DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION PROJECT

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT FOR NGO DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION PROJECT YEAR 2011 PROJECT CODE Hankkeen perustiedot 1. Basic information on the Project 1.1 Name of Organisation registered in Finland Käymäläseura Huussi ry 1.2 Name of Organisation in English Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland (GDTAF) 1.3 Name of Project in Finnish Msunduzan kuivasanitaatiohanke 1.4 Name of Project in English Msunduza Dry Sanitation project 1.5 Name of Project in other relevant language 1.6 Location of Project (country, province, village/community) Swaziland, Hhohho district, Mbabane (Msunduza Township) 1.7 Name of co-operation Partner The Salvation Army of Swaziland 1.8 Planned initiation and termination dates of the Project Page 1/26

2 1.9 Summary of the core idea of the Project and the key results and impacts achieved (see Project plan, 1.11.) Problem Urbanization as a current phenomenon can be seen in Swaziland, as growing numbers of people flee the rural areas and relocate to the peri-urban areas of cities. Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland, is one of the cities challenged with this phenomenon. One of the side effects of rapid urbanization is poor sanitation as people use insufficient solutions as toilet facilities such as pit latrines, buckets and even plastic bags. Some empty their faeces to the same pits used for household waste and especially during the rainy season, yards and water points are polluted and cholera and diarrheal diseases prevail. For the most vulnerable, elderly and children, and together with the high HIV/AIDS prevalence affecting the people of Swaziland, poor sanitation can be fatal. Waste management in the area is lacking causing additional environmental problems to the area and social problems are caused due to poor sanitation facilities affecting especially women and girls. Purpose The purpose of the Msunduza Dry Sanitation Project is to improve the sanitation by building adequate toilets in the area and to raise awareness in the linkage between hygiene and diseases through education. Additionally composting and home gardening is promoted through the education and provision of composted manure from the dry toilets. People s participation in project activities and livelihood through income gains are additional objectives of the project. Results During the year 2011 construction of dry toilets continued. By the end of the year, 33 dry toilets were funded out of which four during the year Yet, the construction of the funded toilets continues during the year The Sanitation Experts have continued with their community education and based on the overall impression of the conducted interviews at the end of 2011, the knowledge on sanitation issues has improved and stigma of using human originated waste has been decreased. During 2011, two workshops were organized: first one in spring on composting theory and practise, and the second in autumn continued with composting, and included also use of urine as fertilizer and the nexus between water and energy. The change of Project Coordinator caused some delays to the project implementation during the year 2011, although activities were back on track after a few months of project and administrational orientation eased also by the monitoring trip to Swaziland in November Page 2/26

3 1.10 Financing summary Year 2011 Project support not used in the previous year (incl. not withdrawn + withdrawn unused funds) Euros 372,55 Support approved for the reporting year Total Project support available for the reporting year 50372,55 Total Project support used during the reporting year 50372,55 Funds not used, transferred to be used and reported in the following year (incl. not withdrawn + withdrawn unused funds) 1.11 Other financing of the Project during the reporting year, if any. Please state here the amount and source of this financing. None 2. Co-operation Partner and co-operation procedure 2.1 How did the co-operation Partner participate in the implementation of the Project? (e.g. Did they provide labour, economic resources, other assets?) The trusted Partner to the project has been the Salvation Army from the very begin. The Partner has been in a crucial position regarding project implementation, coordination and management. Salvation Army is in charge of the project s payments and bookkeeping at the local level. The Local Coordinator working for the Salvation Army acts as a supervisor to the local workers: the Sanitation Experts and the constructor. The Local Coordinator also draws the contracts with both of them and acts as an advisor. During the year 2010, agreements with the toilet owners and the toilet caretakers were also put into operation and the Salvation Army has been in charge of them as well. The Salvation Army provides facilities for the Experts weekly meetings and for other project related activities and workshops whenever needed. Previously, the Salvation Army has been more involved in choosing the sites for toilets, but this has now been more a task for the Community Leaders and the Sanitation Experts. The Salvation Army has continued to maintain contacts with the Project Manager and locally with the Sanitation Experts and the City Council. The Salvation Army has also acted as a co-supervisor to the students and as an advisor when needed. The Local Coordinator changed from Captain Piet Semeno to Captain Nhlanhla Ziqubu at the end of Even though the project had then been going on for five years already and had a very eventful history, the new Coordinator has familiarized with the project and it s on goings impressively quickly, mainly due to his personal motivation and interest for the project concept. The communication and responding to project affairs have fastened and become more efficient. Page 3/26

4 2.2 Were there other parties involved in the co-operation (e.g. Finnish, local or international organisations or officials)? Please describe their role and involvement in the Project. Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) has an important role in the project management. The Project Coordinator works for TUAS and the overall coordination and communication is done through the Coordinator. The Coordinator is in close contact with the Salvation Army concerning project on goings and to the City Council of Mbabane, which has a substantial role as the local authority in the area. The Project Coordinator also regularly informs the Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland (GDTAF) on the current activities of the project and the Coordinator often does planning in conjunction with the Project Secretary at the GDTAF. The students working for the project have been from the Department of Sustainable Development in TUAS. The students have done various practical tasks in the field, assisted the Sanitation Experts, come up with new innovative ideas concerning the project and helped Project Coordinator s work through regular reporting and general project support. Both the GDTAF and a student working for the project in the autumn 2011 were of great help to the new Project Coordinator on updating the project issues and management. Even though the City Council of Mbabane does not possess an official Partner role in the project, it is a vital cooperator and has a crucial role in the successful implementation of project activities. The City Council as the local authority is in charge of the construction permits, approvals and land use. For the project, the City Council has provided valid information regarding local policies, customs and working culture. The students from TUAS have also been provided with working facilities at the City Council, which is located next to Msunduza and thus eases the practical affairs regarding project activities. Additionally the Head of Environmental Health Department has provided overall support and guidance to the students staying in Mbabane. The cooperation between TUAS and the City Council has continued nearly for a decade now and the communication between them and additionally with the Salvation Army has been emphasized in the Msunduza Dry Sanitation Project during recent years. This has led to enhanced project implementation and smoothed cooperation between the stakeholders in question. City Council has also proven to adopt the concept of dry sanitation as an alternative form of sanitation and has been recommending dry sanitation in areas where it is not possible to connect households to drainage. 3. Sustainability of the Project 3.1 How did predictable or unprecedented external factors affect the implementation of the Project? (economic, social, environmental or cultural factors) Page 4/26

5 In the August 2011 the Project Manager changed as Jenni Koivisto left for Sweden to continue with her studies. Student Assistant Jonna Heikkilä replaced Jenni but it was until November before she was able to start working full time for the project. Even though Jonna had worked more or less for the project after her practical training in Swaziland in 2008 and was familiar with the project itself, the coordination and issues related to management were unfamiliar to her and took time to master. Also since Jenni s withdrawal occurred during the summer, practical matters such as user accounts for appropriate software and authorization for project activities were stalled due to the summer holidays and absence of relevant staff. Nevertheless, after Jonna graduated at the end of October and especially after the trip to Swaziland in November and with the help of the student there, the updates on the project events were made and the coordination started to roll. In April, a major demonstration against the country s government took place in several towns around Swaziland. Some of the schools were closed in the fear of conflicts and TUAS were on its toes regarding its students staying in Swaziland, the demonstrations waned and for example the Sanitation Experts weekly meetings were held as usual. During the reporting year Msunduza Community Waste Recycling Centre, working together with the Project, was struggling with financial and motivational issues and the gardening site located at the recycling centre s plot was left without care. Gardening site s main purpose is to demonstrate people of Msunduza on gardening skills and self-sufficiency on food production, thus supporting the goals of the Project. Waste Recycling Centre was established under the Environmental Health Education Project in 2010, together by City Council of Mbabane, TUAS and City of Salo. 3.2 How has the local government, local organisation or the beneficiaries themselves taken responsibility for the economic sustainability and continuation of the Project? The Sanitation Experts have become the driving force of the project. There have been some alterations in the Experts line-up, but still the majority of them have remained with the project from the very beginning. Additionally the three new ones who joined the team in 2010 have proven to be highly motivated and adapted well to the project and its activities. This is mainly due to the help of other Experts with more experience and their guidance and assistance in the project area. The Sanitation Experts were also big help to the new Project Coordinator in Swaziland updating the situation in the project and providing information on the recent on-goings. After clarifying the Experts responsibilities in 2010, their work has become more and more effective and they have clearly benefited from this more detailed job description. The experience and knowledge gained from the project work have given them more self-confidence and they are more self-initiative to plan activities and conduct workshops on their own. Additionally they are eager to learn more and further improve their skills such as preparing their own lessons for the workshops and thus develop their performance skills. Page 5/26

6 The Community Leaders of Msunduza have supported the project from the beginning and been actively involved in e.g. selecting the households in most need of a dry toilet. Additionally they have been looking for and selecting the caretakers for the community toilets. With the toilet owners and the caretakers an agreement has been drawn, so that they are aware what is expected of them, to increase their ownership of the toilet and to make the handover of the toilet more official. At the end of 2011, the establishment of Sanitation Clubs was revived and opinions and suggestions for the practical implementation collected as part of interviews made for a Bachelor Thesis by a student from the Department of Sustainable Development. The idea was strongly supported and especially the local leaders came up with suggestions and ideas how the Clubs could be further developed. The cooperation with the Salvation Army has continued smoothly and especially with the new Local Coordinator communication has improved and the effectiveness of activities increased. The cooperation between the two new Coordinators started well from the very first meeting and has been straightforward all along. The Local Coordinator has been more available to the Sanitation Experts, which has made their work easier, increased their motivation and supported their self-reliance. The Local Coordinator has been active especially in finding alternative constructors, since the current constructor Mr Mabuza has proven to be quite expensive for the project. Even though Mr Mabuza has done a good job in toilet construction, he has been unable to find a cost-effective toilet model, which would not only bring the rather high construction costs down but could be affordable for the people after the project ends. 4. Beneficiaries 4.1 Who were the direct beneficiaries of the Project, and how many were there? The foremost direct beneficiaries of the Project are homesteads with dry toilets. The total number of dry toilets financed in the Project by the end of reporting year is 33. Eight of the toilets are situated in public places such as community meeting points and sports grounds around the project area, two are situated in primary school and the rest are located in private homesteads. The number of people with access to a dry toilet is on average 6 per homestead. In the public places number of people with access to dry toilets varies between 15 to 40 per day per toilet depending whether a community meeting is taking place. Altogether there are some dry toilet users daily in homesteads and public toilets. Msunduza Primary school has two dry toilets and they are used by the 150 pupils of the school. The eight Sanitation Experts working for the project is one group of direct beneficiaries. Number of people educated by the Experts is around 1700 per month. During reporting period there was two Page 6/26

7 workshops facilitated. The first one held in June was targeted at the Sanitation Experts working for the project and the six Environmental Educators volunteering at the Msunduza Community Waste Recycling Centre. Workshop organised in December included the Sanitation Experts, and two out of the four toilet owners/care takers from the community of Corporation, where the workshop was held, participated. 4.2 Who were the indirect beneficiaries of the Project? The Local Leaders of Msunduza can be identified as one of the indirect beneficiaries. The Leaders have acted as an essential cooperation partner throughout the project as their approval and perception on the project is vital in order to carry out a successful project in the area. Even though the project has benefitted from the acceptance and approval of the leaders, they have themselves also gained prestige and enhanced status in the community from working closely with the project. The communication between the leaders and the Salvation Army as the only local clinic in Msunduza and additionally with the local authority, the City Council, has been supported through the project. Constructors, who have been employed by the project, have also acted as beneficiaries in the project. Finding a local constructor has proven to be a challenge. Even though the current constructor Mr. Mabuza has been doing a reasonably good job, the costs of his work are quite high considering the concept of people constructing their own toilets after the project ends. Yet, since finding rival constructor has turned out to be quite problematic, the project has been more or less forced to continue Mr. Mabuza s contract in order to keep the construction work going. The Local Coordinator has been working hard solving this issue and hopefully a cost-effective and a satisfactory solution to the problem will be found as soon as possible. The Salvation Army of Swaziland has gained knowledge and experience from working in the project. They have also been able to promote their position in the community by supporting wellbeing of the Msunduza people through the project. The Salvation Army s good reputation has been boosted through the disseminated information concerning the project, the leaflets and articles produced by the project. They have established good communication channels to the City Council and to the local leaders of Msunduza as well. The City Council has benefitted from the project as it has promoted their status in the eyes of the Msunduza people. The Council has a linkage to the community through the project and is thus more aware of the on goings in the area. The students have acted as a practical linkage between Msunduza and the City Council since they have stayed in the office of the Head of the Health Inspector s office while working for the project. The City Council naturally benefits of the overall improvements made in the area under its authority. The material produced for the project has been available for distribution by Page 7/26

8 the City Council at its events and facilities such as the Waste Information Center and the Community Recycling Center located in Msunduza. TUAS and GDTAF have also been able to gain knowledge and experience on sanitation issues. Vast experience of the GDTAF has enabled TUAS to rely on the support of the GDTAF and they have acted as peer groups to each other. The cooperation has also supported deeper coverage and visibility in various events and medias. Students, who have been doing their practicals for the project, have gained vital knowledge and experience from working in an international development cooperation project. They have been able to gain experience of work in a very different culture, in different language and an environment, which allows independent work yet as part of a team and encourages creative thinking in project planning and implementation. Students have additionally been able to continue their work for the project after their return as student assistants and gain further experience in various tasks such as reporting, co-writing publications, networking, designing project material and advertising the project. If the project support granted was less than , please answer the following question: 4.3 How did the beneficiaries participate in the Project? If the project support granted was or more, please answer the following question: 4.4 Please specify the way in which each group of beneficiaries participated in the Project. Toilet owners: Before construction of a toilet begins, the toilet owners have to sign an agreement where they agree to take good care of the toilet, keep it clean and repair damages caused by misuse. They also agree to empty the composted material and collect urine and use them in home gardens or elsewhere where appropriate. The toilet owners also participate in the construction of the dry toilets according to their skills and physical health. When needed they are provided with education regarding construction, toilet use, maintenance or safe use of the composted material. Msunduza community people: All of the six areas of Msunduza have now a dry toilet at their meeting point. These toilets are for everyone to use for a 50 cent usage fee. The people are educated by the Sanitation Experts during community meetings, workshops or when the Experts go around in the area doing community education. Caretakers: Every household has a particular caretaker who signs the agreement for the proper toilet use and maintenance and is therefore in charge of the toilet. The meeting point toilets also have caretakers, who are selected by the Community Leaders and educated by the Sanitation Experts. They hold the key to the toilet, open it for use during community meetings or football games or when asked Page 8/26

9 to. Such toilets are kept locked during other times due to possible vandalism. In some areas the meeting point toilets can be kept unlocked at all times. The caretakers clean the toilet, stir the composting material, collect sawdust or other dry material and provide the toilet with toilet paper from the usage fee that they collect. Sanitation Experts: The Sanitation Experts educate the people of Msunduza on diverse matters regarding the toilet, composting and future use of fertilizer. They also meet with the representative of the City Council or the Central Committee regularly and discuss project issues. When needed and in suitable events the Experts have educated people outside Msunduza as well. Each one of the Experts has their own toilets, which they are responsible for and visit more often. In their obligatory weekly meetings the Experts report and discuss together the possible challenges regarding the toilets or the project, plan for future activities and meet with their Local Coordinator. The meetings are conducted by the Chair or the Vice-Chair of the Experts and the minutes are written and sent by the Secretary. Local leaders: form the committee, which discusses and selects the most vulnerable and most suitable households, who need a dry toilet. They also pick the caretakers of the meeting point toilets among their own communities. Project Coordinator meets with the Central Committee consisting of local leaders, whenever something new is planned or their support for the project needed. The local leaders are the opinion leaders of the area so their support and example is highly appreciated. Constructors: In the past there has been one local constructor used but due to constant problems at the construction sites and irreconcilable disagreements, his contract was not renewed. Since then the project has only used one constructor, Mr Mabuza who is very skilled and has done good work but yet is unsustainable due to the high price, which he has refused to decrease. In the last phase of the project it is crucial that a new cheaper constructor is found and the people educated more on the building of dry toilets themselves. The University of Swaziland has agreed to help with this since they are teaching building construction and have good contacts to different constructors. 5. Project objective, implementation and monitoring OBJECTIVE 5.1 Has the objective(s) of the Project remained the same as in the original Project plan? If they have changed, please describe how. The project objectives were specified for the second phase, The objectives are: Objective 1. Improved sanitation hygiene Number of adequate sanitation facilities increased Page 9/26

10 Sanitation of the project area improved and knowledge on environmental health improved among the inhabitants of Msunduza Long-term targets: Prevalence and spreading of diarrhea and other diseases due to poor sanitation conditions decreased The stigma of dry toilets and handling of human originated (?) waste decreased in Msunduza Straight effluent flows to waterways reduced Objective 2. Increased composting and home gardening Number of home gardens and composts increased Knowledge on composting and gardening in Msunduza increased Long-term targets: The project area becomes tidier due to increased composting, gardening and dry composting toilets Slope erosion reduced and cosines of the area improved due to increased plantings The crops of present gardens improved due to use of composted material in the gardens Objective 3. Increased livelihood and participation in the project area Number of entrepreneurship increased due to construction of toilets, delivery of brown material and production of gardens Activity of local entrepreneurships increased The incomes of women and youth increased due to increased gardening and other activities Increased participation of community members in community work Long-term targets: Improved co-operation within the community itself Objective 4. Improved know-how of applicant Information and experiences will be compiled for applicant s and other actor s needs In order monitor the progress of the project indicators for each objective, were written in Some qualitative indicators were included in 2010, as requested by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The indicators are listed below: Objective 1: Improved sanitation hygiene Number of dry toilets built; Number of toilets in proper use; Number of hand wash facilities increased; Number of toilet users (men / women / youth); The locations of the toilets addressing the needs of the community (criteria for beneficiary selection & community involvement); Amount of different types of sanitation education being conducted; Number of sanitation education receivers (men / women / youth); Number of people trained in sanitation workshops (men / women / youth); Improved knowledge in sanitation and hygiene. Satisfaction of toilet users for the constructed toilets Condition, type and function of each toilet Page 10/26

11 Objective 2: Increased composting and home gardening Increase of home gardening; Increase of composts; Number of gardens using toilet waste as manure; Number of community members trained in gardening and composting (men / women / youth); Amount and type of educational material being produced. The perception of gardeners/toilet owners on using human manure in gardens Objective 3: Increased livelihood and participation in the project area Number of sanitation experts actively working in the project (meetings & education); Amount of community skills training conducted; Number of community members participating at the project activities (men / women / youth); Forms of income generation opportunities linked with dry sanitation increased. The perception of Sanitation Experts/toilet users/youth/other beneficiary group on how much they can do and effect on their life and whether this has changed during the project. Objective 4: Improved know-how of applicant Number of trainings, seminars, conferences, other events the project organisation is participating; Number and type of publications, presentations and other written material produced. For the third phase of the project to be implemented , qualitative and quantitative targets were defined as requested by the Ministry. IMPLEMENTATION 5.2 Have the objectives of the Project been implemented by the activities as mentioned in the Action Plan? If the activities are different from the original plan, please state the reason for the change and the nature of the current plan of action. Has the Project proceeded according to the original timetable? Objective 1: Improved sanitation hygiene The Sanitation Experts have continued to map the most vulnerable people of Msunduza in most need of a toilet. The Local Leaders have played an increasingly big role in this as well. The toilets are being built by a constructor Mr Mabuza, who is not from Msunduza. Efforts have been made to find a local constructor and one was used in the early stages of the project, but due to irreconcilable differences, his contract was not renewed and a new constructor from Msunduza has not been found. The toilet recipients participate in the constructional process according to their skills and physical ability and there is an agreement on this signed prior to construction. The Sanitation Experts have continued to educate people of Msunduza on toilet use and maintenance, sanitation and hygiene and connection between health and state of the environment. Page 11/26

12 The engineering students from HAMK have designed drawings for simpler and also more costeffective dry toilet models. Yet, the actual building of these toilets has not been able to carry out mainly due to the lacking competent and willing professional, who would conduct the workshop. The project has provided Experts with Andy Handy washing devices to be kept by the community toilets and also at households without hand washing possibilities. The material produced by the project has been distributed through the Sanitation Experts, students and by the City Council s Waste Information Center and Msunduza Community Recycling Center. Objective 2: Increased composting and home gardening Education on composting was provided to the Sanitation Experts and the Environmental Educators, who work at the Msunduza Community Recycling Center. The Center has been planned to act as a show-piece of project outputs such as dry toilet use and maintenance, composting and test field for the manure from the dry toilet due to its central location in Msunduza and the skilled personnel working there. During a workshop in the spring a tire composting was constructed for the Recycling Center. Later on in the autumn an additional composting workshop was organized after the Sanitation Expert s request for more education on the issue. For the workshop also toilet owners from the community, where the workshop was held, were invited and to visit the organic garden of the facilitator Matambo Bheki. All along the households have been educated on the benefits of composting and the use of composted material in home gardens. The small plots of Msunduza and on the other hand the fertilizer is still in the composting process, which has challenged this objective to be implemented in its full potential. During the third phase test gardens will be put to use and through the established Clubs, people will receive information more effectively and see the benefits in practice. The use of composted material from the dry toilets has been discussed with every toilet owner and a place for secondary composting site (Enviro-Loos) or a home garden has been agreed upon. In case of small plot or in case of unwillingness to use the human originated manure in food production an alternative use has been sought for. For example the erosion of steep hills is a challenge in the area and use of manure in landscaping is one way to take advantage of the composted material. Women have been targeted in gardening education especially by the Sanitation Experts, which can be seen from their monthly reports where records are kept of reached people. Objective 3: Increased livelihood and participation in the project area In the Action Plan for the project, Objective 3 focused on the promotion entrepreneurship in the area. Even though, some are using the composted material already in their gardens and are interested in getting extra income through selling of crops or the fertilizer, in all honesty it can be stated that the project has not been able to carry out the activities and reach the objective defined in this section. The delays in the construction of the dry toilets is the fundamental reason for most of the toilets late introduction and thus slow filling up and composting for safe manure. When compared to the other project by the GDTAF in Zambia, the sensitization process seems to have taken longer than expected in Swaziland and thus postponed the implementation of certain planned activities. Additionally, there are five constructors working simultaneously in Zambia while only one in Swaziland, which has presented another challenge to the scheduled project plan. In the Action Plan, it was expected that dry toilets will promote entrepreneurship in fertilizer selling, but it is the selling of dry substance, which has become a small-scale business for some in Msunduza. Since especially the Enviro-Loos and the old-type dry toilets require use of dry Page 12/26

13 substances and some of the owners of the toilets are in poor physical health, collecting of dry substance has become a way to earn small extra income for some. The improved activeness and self-initiative of the Sanitation Experts has been noticeable. They are proud of their work and are eager to talk to people about project related issues. They also make their own agendas and suggestions for future activities and workshop topics. The women of the Sanitation team are very motivated and have gained more self-confidence and selfesteem working for the project. The Experts have gained enough knowledge to organize meetings and workshops on their own about sanitation and dry toilets and disseminate information to people on their own. Due to challenges and delays with the construction and especially with the Enviro-Loos, the manure from the toilet has not been able to be tested in gardens. On the proper use of manure in gardening and on the toilet construction, these are the topics where the Sanitation Experts as well as the people need more education. Objective 4: Improved know-how of applicant The Project has provided experience and know-how not only for GDTAF, but for TUAS as well. There has been three project coordinators working for the project and all of them have gained valuable experience in sanitation, dry sanitation, project management and development cooperation in general. The students of HAMK and TUAS have all been very content after working for the project and many have stayed in the field of development work afterwards. In 2011, there was an article written in English for TUAS publication series, which presented the D&R projects of Technology, Environment and Economy. The publication will be out this spring. Two Bachelor Theses were published during the reporting year: one on home gardening in Msunduza and the other concerning role of gender in Msunduza Dry Sanitation Project. During the year 2011 material was collected for another Bachelor Thesis and is under work by a student from Department of Sustainable Development in TUAS. If the project support granted was less than , please answer the following question: 5.3 Please estimate how and how successfully the objectives of the Project have been achieved from the beginning of the Project and during the reporting year. If the project support granted was or more, please answer the following question: 5.4 Please describe the results that have been achieved since the beginning of the Project and during the reporting year. Objective 1: Improved sanitation hygiene Number of adequate sanitation facilities increased The number of dry toilets funded in the project area was 33 toilets at the end of Out of the 33 toilets, 29 were finished at the end of the year thus eight were built during year Out of the 29 toilets, 11 are EnviroLoos, 5 old model composting toilets and 13 composting dry toilets with urine separation. Due to constant problems with the EnviroLoos, the composting dry toilets with urine separation are the only ones to be built by the project in the future. The use of only one constructor has delayed the construction work since whenever he has personal issues hindering the work at the construction site, the project has had no choice but to wait for him. On the other hand, the toilets have Page 13/26

14 been opened for use quicker than in the past. Still the devoted caretakers seem to be a challenge to find and keep, perhaps due to the too small fee that they receive. Sanitation of the project area improved and knowledge on environmental health improved among the inhabitants of Msunduza Although the Sanitation Experts have continued to educate the people of Msunduza, it has been difficult to know whether the sanitation of the area has truly improved and knowledge on environmental health increased. However it can be seen when visiting some of the households with a dry toilet built by the project that they have torn down the pit latrine they were previously using. In order to measure whether the education of the Sanitation Experts has paid off and the knowledge on sanitation and hygiene has improved, interviews were conducted by a student at the end of During the interviews and when compared to a Bachelor Thesis on the same issue, the results could be seen. Mostly people knew how to maintain a dry toilet, what are its benefits and they seemed to understand the connection between health and the state of the environment. Objective 2: Increased composting and home gardening Number of home gardens and composts increased The project has promoted composting and gardening throughout the project. The Sanitation Experts have continued to educate people on both topics. The challenge in Msunduza is the small plots and the lack of space, which composting and gardening require. Also only few of the dry toilets are full yet and therefore secondary composting has not been needed yet. With all of the toilet owners and meeting point toilets where secondary composting is needed, places for sites have been looked for and agreed on. Knowledge on composting and gardening in Msunduza increased During the reporting year, a composting workshop was conducted for the Sanitation Experts since even though they know the benefits and the idea of composting, they seemed to lack practical skills needed when teaching others how a composting site is done. A former Sanitation Expert and an enthusiastic organic gardener conducted the workshop with the previous Project Manager Jenni Koivisto, and he has agreed to of assistance in the future as well whenever needed. At the end of the year, composting education was continued after Experts requested more information on the topic. In the workshop, the four toilet owners or caretakers of Enviro-Loos were invited to the workshop, and two attended. The Enviro-Loos are the toilets, which have only one toilet seat and a collection chamber and therefore require the secondary composting site. Additionally, the Sanitation Experts requested education on use of urine as a fertilizer, which was provided by the current Project Coordinator Jonna Heikkilä. The water-sanitation nexus was another topic of the workshop by the outside evaluator and a lecturer at TUAS on location at the time. Page 14/26

15 Objective 3: Increased livelihood and participation in the project area Number of entrepreneurship increased due to construction of toilets, delivery of brown material and production of gardens Activity of local entrepreneurships increased Finding local constructors has been a challenge after the difficulties with the constructor from Msunduza used in the project in the beginning. Local Coordinator has done his best to find a suitable constructor, which has proven to be difficult even outside Msunduza. Uses of local construction material such as local bricks are looked for though. Also construction workshop to be organized in 2012 will promote more local entrepreneurship in toilet construction. The Sanitation Experts have provided assistance in some of the construction sites, where repairs have been needed, and hence gained experience in this area as well. Selling of dry material has become small business to some in Msunduza. Collection of dry substance can be difficult in some areas and this has created small-scale entrepreneurship in the delivery of brown material. Delays in the toilet construction have affected the use of fertilizer from the toilets in gardens. The EnviroLoos and the dry toilets built by the first, and somewhat problematic, constructor have had their shares of constructional problems, which has hindered full-scale composting of the faeces and thus prevented safe use of the manure from them in food production so far. On the other hand, a toilet by the former Sanitation Expert s and current organic gardener has worked flawlessly and the manure has been used in his garden in fruit tree cultivation. His garden is going to be used as a showpiece garden in the future. Additionally, some plots for gardens have been applied for from the Central Committee and the City Council to be used by the Clubs, both of which have agreed to try to find a suitable space from the cramped areas of Msunduza. The incomes of women and youth increased due to increased gardening and other activities The women of Sanitation Experts team have proven to be extremely active in their work. Even though the number of women is only three out of eight Sanitation Experts, they are very vocal and enthusiastic both in their communities as well as in among the Experts. They have clearly gained self-esteem and courage to speak up and take pride in their work. One out of the three Expert women is also working as a Waste Manager for the newly established Msunduza Recycling Center, which has enabled synergy between these two projects, Msunduza Dry Sanitation Project and the Environmental Health Education Project, and thus supported effectiveness. The cooperation between the projects will be further supported during the last phase of the project. The role of women in Msunduza has been more and more supported in the project activities and this will continue in the third phase of the project. Especially gardening is the mainly done by women in the project area and this is acknowledged and emphasized for example in the establishment and implementation of the EnviroClubs. Page 15/26

16 Unfortunately the former Mncitsini Youth does no longer exist, since the members of the group have moved away to either study or work elsewhere. Yet, establishment of new youth groups has been discussed and this is looked in to more in the future. Increased participation of community members in community work There were eight Sanitation Experts working for the project during In the beginning of the year, the number was nine but due to personal issues one of the Experts quit after only a short period of time in the project. Five of the Sanitation Experts have been part of the project already from the beginning, which is one sign of their commitment to it. Their knowledge on the project issues is impressive at this stage even though the use of fertilizer and gardening still needs practical training. The tension between some of the Experts seems to have eased and they work more as a team. This has been supported by the active and more available Local Coordinator, who the Experts have lower threshold to go and talk to when needed. The Local Leaders and the Central Committee have continued to support the project and been actively involved especially in the selection of homesteads and the caretakers for the dry toilets. During the interviews by the student at the end of 2011, they not only appreciated the project but gave good suggestions for the improvement and sustainability of the project. Out of the community people, the toilet owners have been mostly participating in the project through the involvement at the construction site and the education by the Sanitation Experts. During the last phase more people will be included through the EnviroClubs and the education and training provided through it. Objective 4: Improved know-how of applicant Information and experiences will be compiled for applicant s and other actor s needs The connection between projects and studies at TUAS has been even more emphasized and therefore the information and experiences from the project have come to play even a bigger role for them. The practicals and Bachelor Theses made and student assistants, who have worked for the project, have not only benefitted them but the school who has been able to provide such working life and practical experience for them. GDTAF has been able to provide information on the dry toilet project in Swaziland in the events they have been part of, through their websites and for everyone interested in the topic. The project has provided material for publications and presentations. During 2011, a Bachelor Thesis on home gardening was published and another one analyzing the role of gender in a sanitation project, furthermore material for a Bachelor Thesis was collected; three articles were written: one in GDTAF s own newsletter Kuivike, one in their own publication series by TUAS (to be published in 2012) and also in the Conference Publication (published in 2012) from Carpe Networking Conference in 2011and the project was presented in the Research, Development and Innovation Day in February 2011 at TUAS for students and project stakeholders. If the project support granted was less than , please answer the following question: 5.5 How did the separation of responsibilities in the implementation of the Project work? Page 16/26

17 If the project support granted was or more, please answer the question: 5.6 Describe the implementation and monitoring procedure of the Project and the responsibility of each party therein. The Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland is responsible for reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, they monitor and manage the project funds and conduct accounting. GDTAF representative stays in regular contact with TUAS concerning project issues, planning, implementation and reporting. The responsible persons in GDTAF are the project manager Sari Huuhtanen and the chair Mia O Neill. Turku University of Applied Sciences is responsible for the project operations together with the local partner. The students from TUAS, when in Swaziland, work together with the Sanitation Experts and the Local Coordinator. The Project Coordinator stays in close contact with the students and also with the Local Coordinator of Salvation Army and the City Council. TUAS is responsible for project monitoring and management and reports to the GDTAF and the project steering group on project on goings, challenges that might rise, use of funds and gets new ideas for project implementation of professionals with diverse background and expertise. Project Manager was until the end of July 2011 Jenni Koivisto, then replaced by Jonna Heikkilä who became the Project Coordinator in October The Salvation Army coordinate the project locally, their work is to make sure that things are done properly and on time. They also make sure that after the identification of recipients of the toilets visits are done to educate the beneficiaries before the toilets is in operation. The Salvation Army also do spot check ups to make sure that things are done correctly from the very beginning. They also meet with the community leaders when there are challenges. Lastly they make sure that working relationship is maintained amongst the experts and monitor the local use of project funds. MONITORING 5.7 How did the responsible persons in the Finnish organisation follow the implementation of the Project and the use of financial resources? How did they participate in the implementation themselves? The Project Manager in Finland keeps regular contact with the Local Coordinator through and phone. The validity of this became crucial after the change of the Project Manager in the autumn Updates on the project issues were discussed more frequently due to the change in the project management. In November 2011, the new Project Manager Jonna Heikkilä travelled to Swaziland for two weeks to meet all the stakeholders and familiarize on the project events on spot. Out of the two annual monitoring trips, Jenni Koivisto conducted the first one in the early summer June 2011 for three Page 17/26

18 weeks. The monitoring trips have proven to be very important since face-to-face meetings and planning eases implementation of the project, especially when no students are working for the project in Swaziland. Additionally during the trips education and training on important issues of that moment is provided by the Project Manager to different stakeholders. Use of financial resources is planned and agreed together with the Local Coordinator and the Project Manager. Especially after the hiring of the new Manager, the Project Secretary of the GDTAF has been more involved, stayed in closer contact and provided guidance especially in financial management. The students, who work for the project, stay in close contact with the Project Manager. They provide up-to-date information on project occurrings and possible challenges by phone or . Also the representative of the City Council and the person, who provides students their working facilities, is regularly contacted most often through but also via phone, when needed. Insufficient communication has been a noted challenge in the past and therefore better communication between different parties has been emphasized. Thus situation has improved and smoother cooperation and mutual contentment has increased. 5.8 How did the local co-operation partners follow the implementation of the Project? The Salvation Army makes sure that all parties involved are doing what they are expected to be doing and that they are doing it correctly. They also make sure that no toilet is being built without the concern of the municipality and ask them to go and check if the pointed spot is okay or not. The Salvation Army sits to the experts weekly meetings to hear the progress of the project and challenges if there are any and see how they can solve them together. 5.9 What kind of qualitative or quantitative data was collected on the advancement of the Project? By the end of 2011, there were 8 toilets built, out of them 2 were yet under construction. These toilets were the ones funded in 2010 and the locations for 4 toilets budgeted for 2011 were being prepared for construction. The Project Coordinator is in regular contact with the Local Coordinator and the students working for the project. The communication is through s and phone. The Project Coordinator is in close contact with the GDTAF representative as well as the City Council of Mbabane whenever needed. The project has its own bank account. The realisation of the budget is monitored on a monthly basis both in Finland and in Swaziland. Page 18/26