Exploring the Challenges of Rural Water Supply Management Systems: The Case of Guto Gida District in East Wollega Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia
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Date
2014-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study Ivas conducted 10 explore the cha llenges of rural water supply management syslelll
in Cuto Cida District, East Wollega zone. To this effect, an attempt was made to assess the
fu nctiona lity of the existence water supp ly sc hemes of the distr ict; to investigate the
inst itut ional supports for the district's schemes; to exam ine the management system of the
district's schemes. To this end, the necessary data f or the study was gathered using
questionnaire, focus group di scussion, key informant interview and personal observation.
During the study, schemes in the study area (Dune Kane and Cari kebele) were observed,
and interview Ivith five key iriformants and group discussions with three different groups
(water and energy office of Cuto Cida district, water commillee and kebele representatives)
were made. In addition, one hundred and seventy four sample households and sixty eight
people at community level (water commillee, kebele cabinets, women and youth associations)
completed the questionnaires. For household survey, two kebeles (Dune Kane and Cari) were
selected randomly and sample respondents were selected using systematic. random sampling,
and for questionnaire to be responded by people at community level, the respondents were
selected purposefUlly. The data ji-om both questionnaires were analyzed separately, but the
data collected ji-om key informant interview, focus group discussion and field observation
were analyzed with cross reference of the questionnaires. In addition, the data collected
through the aforementioned tools were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.
The findings ji-om the study indicate that the major challenges for the rural water supply
and management are poor service from existing schemes because of construction quality of
the schemes, lack of protection, handling problem of beneficiaries and problem of budget
allocation for schemes development and maintenance, giving emphasis to supply oriented
approach by ignoring how to manage the existing schemes, unsafe drinking water ji-om the
schemes; lack of education or training for the community on how to manage or care for the
schemes, number of beneficiaries of schemes and low capacity of the schemes, weak
community management, no community involvement to select the type of technology to be
installed, wasting much time at the water point to fetch water, no established water
committee f or most of the schemes, negligible water payment system because of lack of
responsible body to organize, lack of man power with relevance of field of studies, logistic
problem and poor communication among the district water and energy office, kebele
representatives, water commillees and the beneficiaries. At the end, some important
conclusions and recommendations have been put based on the findings of the study.
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Keywords
Challenges of Rural Water, Supply Management Systems