3.3.5 Cluster approach - WaterAid Uganda

The project works with the community focussing on awareness creation and sensitisation on sanitation and hygiene through the formation of clusters of 10 households, promotion activities, Community Action Plans, mapping area and routes, LNGO, LG involvement and the provision of excavation tools.

The success factors and drivers for change have been identified as:

1. the need for competition,
2. hope and expectation for support in other interventions,
3. liaison with community retired civil servants,
4. involvement of the local leadership,
5. local non-governmental organisation
6. staff support,
7. external visitors,
8. social benefits,
9. community cohesion,
10. publicity and
11. emphasis on behaviour.

Resources required for success included local materials, excavation tools, promotional tools, community human resources and LNGO staff time.

Main achievements of the project included 75% increase in HYSAN structures including 1.934 new latrines in 18 months resulting in 100% sanitation coverage in two communities and 90% coverage in 12 other communities. In addition the project managed to get whole households other than individual members involved and have the approach replicated by local government. The community and household elderly were supported.

The main lessons were that projects need to use “allies” in the community, start with issue appeal, emphasis on health benefits alone not strong enough, community members can monitor themselves, need to provide linkages towards livelihoods, and that a lot of awareness is still needed. Some of the main challenges noted included insecurity of community regarding external support, sustainability because of domestic animals, livelihood approach and ‘difficult’ people who hamper the project.