SASOL community approach - for sand dams in Kitui [Kenya]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Donald B. Thomas
- Editor: –
- Reviewer: Fabian Ottiger
approaches_2358 - Kenya
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach
SLM specialist:
Mutiso Sam
sasol@kenyaweb.com
SASOL Foundation
PO Box 85 Kitui Kenya
Kenya
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Sahelian Solutions Foundation (SASOL) - Kenya1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:
Yes
1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies
Kitui Sand dams [Kenya]
Masonry dam in seasonal watercourse or river that stores water in the sand which accumulates above it.
- Compiler: Unknown User
2. Description of the SLM Approach
2.1 Short description of the Approach
Community based water resource development
2.2 Detailed description of the Approach
Detailed description of the Approach:
Aims / objectives: Purpose is to harness the available water resource for common interests. Objective is to make water more accesible especially in the dry season.
Methods: Communities are mobilised through participation process. Local artisans are trained on the job wherease the community provide local materials and free labour voluntarily. Supporting NGOs facilitate the training and provide inputs eg cement, reinforcing bars, skilled labour. Community mobilisation is basic to SASOL's programme for water resource development. SASOL take advantage of existing structures and conforms to the government policy refferred to as District focus for Rural Development. Before communities can be mobilised, people, must be trained and SASOL has found that training can best be done at the local level. The role of the community is as follows: 1. To provide secondary data/information 2. Identify problems, resources and propose possible interventions or community action plan. 3. Election of a committee to take charge - custodial of all purchased materials. 4. Collection of local materials and provide labour. 5. Carry out impact assessment periodically
2.3 Photos of the Approach
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
Country:
Kenya
Region/ State/ Province:
Eastern
Map
×2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach
Indicate year of initiation:
1995
2.7 Type of Approach
- project/ programme based
2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach
The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (tree nursery establishment, health and hygiene concerns of the community. (Community Trainings))
to build sand dams in all streams in a 200km2 part of Central Division of Kitui District.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Lack of water especially in dry seasonPoor water hygiene and general public health.
2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach
availability/ access to financial resources and services
- hindering
Lack of funds for cement
Treatment through the SLM Approach: SASOL raises the funds
institutional setting
- hindering
Lack of community organization to address the prevailing problems
Treatment through the SLM Approach: participatory process to identify problems & solutions
knowledge about SLM, access to technical support
- hindering
Lack of trained artisans
Treatment through the SLM Approach: training of artisans
other
- hindering
roads and access to river valleys
Treatment through the SLM Approach: improvement of roads
3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved
3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles
- local land users/ local communities
Community village group (water users' group). Working land users were mainly women (most of the men are working outside the district.) Existing groups of land users; Working land users were mainly women (most of the men are working outside the district.)
More men working outside the district.
More women engaged in the daily activities as they are availanle. Sub-locational development committees and self help groups are mobilised for a community training that follows the approach of a PRA. The community selects from 25 to 50 trainnees, both men and women.
- national government (planners, decision-makers)
- international organization
Kenyan political scientist in collaboration with a Netherland hydrogeologist and an environmental planner
3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
Involvement of local land users/ local communities | Specify who was involved and describe activities | |
---|---|---|
initiation/ motivation | interactive | Mainly:rapid/participatory rural appraisal; partly: workshops/seminars; PRA was carried out with the assistance of world neighbours |
planning | interactive | Mainly: rapid/participatory rural appraisal; partly: public meetings; participatory planning exercise |
implementation | interactive | responsibility for major steps; collection of local materials labour water etc |
monitoring/ evaluation | interactive | measurements/observations; community observation and comments |
Research | none | water hygiene analysis |
3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies
Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
- mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists
Explain:
Consultative through participatory approaches.
Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users. consultative
4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management
4.1 Capacity building/ training
Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?
Yes
Specify who was trained:
- land users
- teachers, school children/students
Form of training:
- on-the-job
- public meetings
- courses
Subjects covered:
through PRA and on the job
4.2 Advisory service
Do land users have access to an advisory service?
Yes
Describe/ comments:
Name of method used for advisory service: Workshop trainning; Key elements: non residential workshops, Educational tours and visits; 1) Advisory service was carried out through: projects own extension structure and agents 2) Advisory service was carried out through: projects own extension structure and agents; Extension staff: specifically hired project employees 3) Target groups for extension: land users; Activities: SWC, Tree planting, water management
Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; community resource persons trained to make it sustainable.
4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)
Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
- yes, moderately
Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:
- local
- cooperative activity to solve water problem
4.4 Monitoring and evaluation
Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?
Yes
Comments:
bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored
technical aspects were regular monitored
economic / production aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: None
no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: None
management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: None
There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: construction of dam in one single phase as opposed to several phase due to difficulties In comminity mobilisation for subsequent phases. Commencement of construction from wing walls instead of the main structure. This is psycologically attractive to land users as they remain motivated to realise completion of the dam across the river/stream bed.
5. Financing and external material support
5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach
If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:
- 100,000-1,000,000
Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):
Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (-): 50.0%; international non-government (-): 10.0%; local community / land user(s) (-): 40.0%
5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users
Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?
Yes
If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):
Provision of purchased inputs like cement.
5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)
- equipment
Specify which inputs were subsidised | To which extent | Specify subsidies |
---|---|---|
tools | fully financed | |
- construction
Specify which inputs were subsidised | To which extent | Specify subsidies |
---|---|---|
Cement and reinforced bars | fully financed | |
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
- voluntary
Comments:
Provision of purchased inputs like cement.
5.4 Credit
Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?
No
6. Impact analysis and concluding statements
6.1 Impacts of the Approach
Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
- No
- Yes, little
- Yes, moderately
- Yes, greatly
more tree nurseries, more vegetable growing, more time for terracing etc instead of treking for water
N/A
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
- No
- Yes, little
- Yes, moderately
- Yes, greatly
other groups using water as an entry point for development e.g. catholic diocese
6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities
Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
- uncertain
If no or uncertain, specify and comment:
Still need help for purchase of inputs especially cement and reinforced bars
6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
avail labour readily for demanding activities (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: engage groups in self help farm activities) |
laggards are pulled along by innovators |
communal identification of available resources and strngths |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
Participatory PRA creates awareness (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: through trainings) |
empowers community (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: start income generating activities) |
costs minimized through voluntary labour |
self reliance strengthened |
community empowered |
6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
materials are too expensive for them to afford | local fund raising initiatives |
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
impact on river flow needs to be studied |
7. References and links
7.1 Methods/ sources of information
- field visits, field surveys
- interviews with land users
7.2 References to available publications
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Thomas, D.B. 1999'where there is no water.' A story of community water development & dand dams in Kitui District, Kenya
Links and modules
Expand all Collapse allLinks
Kitui Sand dams [Kenya]
Masonry dam in seasonal watercourse or river that stores water in the sand which accumulates above it.
- Compiler: Unknown User
Modules
No modules