IICD supported project: Reinforcement of sensitization impact on water sanitation through the use of ICTs

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Countries: Burkina Faso [BF]
Sectors: environment
image: project in state 4

Summary

This project aims at reinforcing the communication capacities of local project staff of Sahel Solidarité in order to inform villagers in the district of Bokin on the hygienic use of water. In order to do so in an efficient way, the local bureau of SaSo in Bokin will be equipped with an Internet connection powered by solar energy, with a few (portable) computers and digital cameras, and with portable projection equipment which will make it possible to organize multimedia sessions in remote villages. The experiences will be documented on a web site, and shared with other national organisations which work on similar themes.

Update

Updated: 2008-06-05

The water hygiene sessions have been documented on the project’s website and shared with other national organisations working on similar themes.
Despite a couple of technical glitches at the outset, this project is firmly on track and is considered a great success by both the project team and the thousands of villagers it is reaching.
This project would be an ideal candidate for replication on a larger scale if the project team works out the concept and shares it with like-minded NGOs and other awareness creation programmes.

Introduction

Portrait Caroline Figuères The project idea was born during the Roundtable workshop on Agriculture and Livelihoods which took place Bobo Dioulasso in July 2003. The population of the intervention zone of the project is regularly being confronted with environmental sanitary or hygienic crises due to a complex of internal and external factors. Besides low levels of agricultural production and low incomes for the farmers of the region, an analysis realised by Sahel Solidarité at the end of 2002 revealed clearly the following factors, being related to information and communication around water use:

The influence of social and cultural practices, related to the fact that women have little access to information gatherings around the use and the management of water sites in the villages;
Limited access by the population to information concerning hygiene and health in general;
Price speculation around drinking water materials and products, for instance water drills;
The absence of means of pressure by the local population towards local, regional or national authorities in matters concerning water quality;
The lack of general information on water sanitation and hygiene, both at local, regional, national and international level;
The lack of information on networks and/or information channels that can promote hygiene and sanitation measures; and,
The absence of marketing strategies for the products that are available for promotion of drinking water and hygiène.

Based on this analysis, together with the target population, the following recommendations were put forward:

Access to hygiene related information should be promoted through communications means adapted to the needs of the community;
Appropriate technologies concerning water hygiene and sanitation should be communicated and promoted;
Information on the possibilities of financing water related investments should be made available;
Capacities and skills of the farmers should be developed on the level of negotiation, lobbying and advocacy around water related matters;
Awareness creation and training of farmers on the use of water, hygienic practices and environmental issues.

Through the use of ICTs, Sahel Solidarité decided to develop an innovative approach on awareness creation and capacity development for farmers, concerning information and communication around water hygiene and sanitation.

Objectives

The general objective of the project is to develop a model for the promotion of hygienic water use and sanitation through the use of enhanced information and communication technologies. Specific objectives:

Reinforcement of ICT-knowledge within project staff;
Reinforcement of ICT-knowledge and know-how of extension workers in the department of Bokin;
Improving internal communication between the central bureaus of Sahel Solidarité and the members in Bokin; and,
Develop experimental methodologies of sensitization and of information services concerning the use of water, through the use of ICT and multimedia.

Development Impacts

The direct beneficiaries are the villagers in 10 of the 23 villages in the district of Bokin will be targeted, an approximate number of 20.000 people. The economic benefits for the targeted villages can be huge, as a better understanding of water-related problems and solutions can lead to an immediate reduction of illnesses, and to a more cost-effective use of water (-related materials). The project has a large element of capacity building, and will lead to empowerment of villagers in general, and women and youth in particular.

Reduction of the digital divide
Giving people a new perception of what ICT can do
Improved supervision through the production of monitoring tools
Availability of local resource persons able to handle ICT tools and awareness-raising activities even at the end of the project
Reduction of training costs for beneficiaries through the use of ICT tools
Reduction of poverty through the use of ICT tools
Greater understanding and appreciation of women's contribution to the work of hygienists

Results

The health clubs are functional. Many sketches are organised in schools. The club issues a monthly newsletter.
71 students know how to work with a computer
142 teachers, hygienists, and farmers have been trained in multimedia
20 hygienists know how to use a digital camera
More than 50% of the population in the project zone know about ICT tools (digital camera, beamer, laptop etc.)
The personnel of Sahel Solidarité trained in multimedia uses ICT in its daily work (email, editing, pictures, PowerPoint, CD production etc.)
Documents are sent by email between Bokin and Ouagadougou
The website of Sahel Solidarité is online and updated
The project manager is often solicited to do presentations on the ICT project
The project team takes part in many national and international exchanges on ICT for development

Lessons learned

With regard to knowledge transfer to the grassroots, the use of ICT tools in awareness-raising activities is a very appropriate method
With regard to behavioural change, the use of ICT tools makes it easier to mobilise the community
With regard to the service provision capability of the project and the use of NICT tools, the target groups were satisfied
With regard to resources, the use of NICT enabled the project to reach a large number of people with few resources
Reduction of the digital divide in rural areas contributes to rural development

Budget

The total budget for two years is € 70.500, of which a large part will be invested in connectivity and equipment, and another part will be devoted to content development and training. € 31.000 has been approved for the extension phase.

Project Owner :

www.sahelsolidarite.bf

Project Partners : IICD

Project Contact : IICD