From consciousness raising to sustainability of community owned water schemes in Tanzania: Lessons from Morogoro and Njombe Rural Districts

Abstract

This paper assessed the role of consciousness raising on sustainability of community owned water schemes in Mtamba village Morogoro  rural District and Magoda village Njombe rural District, focusing on financial ability of the community in maintaining and operating the  established water schemes, availability of spare parts and technical skills, and number of water points functioning overtime (functionality  rate). Sample of 272 participants was used. It was a descriptive study that blended qualitative and quantitative (mixed) methods that  used qualitative sequential quantitative design. Primary data were collected through interview, observation, and focus group discussions.  Secondary data were collected through documentary review method. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive  statistics while qualitative data were analysed through ATLAS.ti 7 qualitative data analysis software package. The study found that  sustainability of the newly established water schemes were affected by inability of some community members to pay water levy  throughout the year, distance and cost in accessing spare parts, malfunctions of some water points due to technical problems and failure  of community members to recover some broken water points. Out of 5 established water schemes 2 had malfunctioning problem  of 100% for Mtamba World Bank water scheme and 19% for SHIPO water scheme. Those water schemes whose users accessed water  without paying water user fee were at high risk of malfunctions than those with fixed water levy system paid by water users on monthly  basis. This implied that consciousness raising was successful in influencing community in establishing water schemes than on sustaining  them.