Self Supply in Mali

A further study of the potential for Self Supply in Mali (Sutton et al, 2006) was carried out by the ‘Division Hygiène Publique et Salubrité’ of the Directorate of Health and Wateraid funded by WSP.  This led to WaterAid and UNICEF initiating self supply pilot projects in 2007. These have targeted certain communes, or health post catchments within of five districts of Koulikoro Region. Piloting is now also beginning in two districts in Ségou Region and one in Sikasso. Since the pilot projects began, over 300 hundred wells have been upgraded by their owners with free cement and in some cases sand and gravel, as demonstrations to others. Encouragingly  many other individual and community well owners have copied some or all of the elements of the prototypes at their own cost,  often contracting the trained masons to carry out the improvements.

Initially partners viewed Self Supply as simply a way to up-grade wells, with user involvement limited to provision of sand, gravel, and labour as with conventional communal water supply. This began to change with the involvement of the National Directorate for Health (DNS) who sensitise householders to their ability to bring about change. The understanding of the initiative has been varied. In cases where the concept has been well-understood (eg Dioila), results have been very positive, with good uptake and replication at the owners own cost, good local CBO support and plans for further changes.  In some other districts the concept needs further clarification for sustainability and reduced donor dependency.

In addition to the self supply pilot, WaterAid through local NGOs have supported communities in well upgrading. The rope pump has been introduced by Oxfam (25 are installed in communities in Gao with 60 to follow ) and Winrock (10 mainly for households in Koulikoro region. Click here to listen to a recent radio progamme broadcast by Radio France International about the Rope Pump work in Mali.

The technical options available for self supply could be improved further (eg rope or even solar powered  pumps for households, lower cost well rings, cheaper ring moulds).  Standardised mason training could improve product consistency and can strengthen the links already forming between promotion of behavioural change in sanitation , water supply improvement and household water treatment. The availability of micro-credit through a revolving fund would also be advantageous for wider uptake of well-upgrading. In order to achieve wider national awareness of the potential of self supply, influence policies and co-ordinate initiatives there is need for a cadre de concertation of partners and interested bodies which will be formed at national and regional levels.

Field Notes

Sutton (2010). Accelerating Self Supply - A Case Study from Mali 2010  (English)

References

Osbert, N & Sutton S. (2009). “Self Supply” in Mali – Early Steps towards an Innovatory Approach, Paper Presented at the 34th WEDC Conference in Addis Ababa, 2009 

Sutton, S (2009) Progress Report on Self Supply/Risk Reduction in Mali, Consultancy Report for RWSN, WSP and UNICEF

Sutton, S., Maiga H. and Maiga B.  (2006). Improving household water supply (Self Supply) -  The Potential in Mali, Consultancy Report for UNICEF, WaterAid and RWSN.

Maiga H, B. Maiga, Sutton S. (2006) Self Supply in Mali. Waterlines vol 25 no 1, July 2006

Maiga H. B. Maiga, Diallo M. (2005)  Etudes de faisabilité de l’auto promotion des systèmes alternatifs d’approvisionnement en eau en milieu rural au Mali. WaterAid Sept 2005.

Sutton, S. (2004). Preliminary Desk Study of Potential for Self Supply in Sub-Saharan Africa, Study Report for WaterAid and RWSN.