RWSN Outputs and Outcomes

Main Outputs (2005 – 2010)

Over the last 6 years the CEB flagship has been supported by WSP-AF, UNICEF, SDC and USAID. Flagship coordination activities have comprised up to two-person months per year by Kerstin Danert (Skat). Additional financial support has provided for specific case studies, support to the drillers associations, the development of guidelines (published as field notes) and tools and the development of the Code of Practice.

Broadly speaking the flagship has gone through three phases:

• Foundation Phase (2005 to 2006) – in depth study of water well drilling sector in Ethiopia; development of a framework for evaluating cost-effective boreholes in other sub-Saharan African countries and promotion of manual drilling including the establishment of a hand drilling cluster group. Publication of two field notes: Ten-step Guide towards Cost-effective Boreholes and A Brief History of Hand Drilled Wells in Niger. The work undertaken in the foundation phase was funded by WSP-AF and involved a team of consultants, including Richard Carter and Kerstin Danert.
• Code of Practice Phase I (2007 – 2008) – examination of water well drilling sector in Nigeria and Mozambique; analysis of UNICEF History of Water Well Drilling; development of zero draft of a Code of Practice for Water Well Construction; further promotion of manual drilling; establishment of Drillers Associations in Nigeria and Mozambique. Publication of field note Hand Drilling in Nigeria. This work was funded by UNICEF-Headquarters and WSP-AF and undertaken by Kerstin Danert, Dotun Adekile and Tom Armstrong.
• Code of Practice Phase II (2009-2010) – finalisation of a Generic Code of Practice for Water Well Construction; studies of the drilling sector in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia; publication of field notes entitled Costing and Pricing: A guide for Water Well Drilling Enterprises and Siting: A Guide for Project Managers; development of a drilling costing tool. A Hand Drilling Directory was also published. Hand drilling promotion work was largely taken on by UNICEF – New York during this period. The activities undertaken in Phase II were funded by UNICEF-Headquarters and USAID as well as UNICEF Nigeria, UNICEF Sudan and UNICEF Uganda. Activities were undertaken by Kerstin Danert, Dotun Adekile, Bruno Duffau, Clement Kwei, Inoussa Ouedraogo, Ron Sloots and Tom Armstrong.

The outputs from the CEB work have been widely disseminated through the RWSN newsletters and website, as well as through partner organisations including UNICEF, WaterAid, WSSCC and WSP. It should be noted that the information dissemination to date has primarily been through electronic means, as well as presentation at key conferences and meetings (e.g. WEDC, regional UNICEF meetings) and in a UNESCO publication on groundwater development (forthcoming). The dissemination of this information has been possible with funding from SDC, who in particular support the RWSN secretariat.

Main Outcomes (2005 – 2010)

The main outcomes over the six year period from 2005 to 2010 are as follows:

·          The establishment and acceptance of a systematic framework by RWSN key implementing agencies to analyse the water well construction sector in a particular country. This framework is fully incorporated within the Generic Code of Practice for Water Well Construction.

·          A strong team of professionals are using their skills and experience to systemically analyse the water well drilling sector in various countries. The individuals with these proven skills are Dotun Adekile, Richard Carter, Kerstin Danert, Bruno Duffau, Ron Sloots, Clement Kwei, Inoussa Ouedraogo and Tom Armstrong.

·          The importance of improving policies and practices with respect to water well drilling is being recognised in a number of countries. This is evidenced by new studies being undertaken (e.g. Sudan) and drillers associations being established (e.g. Burkina Faso).

·          Greater recognition by UNICEF of manual drilling as a viable technology for rural water supplies.

·          Linkages and informal networks between different stakeholders working to improve water well drilling policies and practices, including manual drilling have emerged and are active (e.g. specific exchange visits and consultation with experts in Bolivia, Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sudan as well as through the hand drilling cluster group).