Funds raised from Lake of Stars will go towards:
UNICEF'S SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT IN DOWA DISTRICT IN MALAWI

Why this project is needed

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the 2005 UNDP Human Development Report, Malawi ranked 165 out of 177 countries in the 2005 Human Development Index. The per capita gross national product is $170 (down from 2001 where it was $210) and around 65 percent of rural Malawians and 55 percent of urban inhabitants live in dire poverty. The problem is compounded by HIV/AIDS and chronic food and nutrition insecurity. Mortality of children under the age of five is very high with 133 deaths per 1000 live births and almost half of all children under the age of five of chronically malnourished. Malaria, diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections are the three main causes of child mortality and morbidity. Limited access to safe water and improved sanitation is one of the contributors to poor health and nutrition status among children and the population in general, WHO estimates that diarrhoea attributes to 27 per cent of under five mortality.

Malawi has made significant progress in increasing access to safe water and sanitation, however to achieve the MDG goals for water and sanitation about 0.21 million and 0.36 million people need to be served on an annual basis at a cost of 8.28 million per year. About 20 percent of schools have no protected water supply and on an average 150 pupils use one latrine against a national average of around 40. 50 percent of the health facilities in rural areas do not have proper water supply and sanitation facilities. Hand washing practice after using toilet is around 35 percent.

Despite large investments in the water supply sector to date, access to safe drinking water is still a problem due to frequent breakdowns, unavailability of spare parts, and lack of trained water committees to maintain and repair the systems: the cumulative effect of these problems is that 38 percent of existing water facilities is not functioning[1].

Objectives of the project

The overall objective of the project is to:

• Increase access to safe water supply from 66 to 80 by 2011
• Increase by 12 percent, access to improved sanitation by 2011.

It also contributes to national efforts to decrease child mortality by two thirds, and to promote universal access to primary education by increasing access to safe water and sanitation in schools.

Specific objectives:

By the end of two years (2006-2008), the project will achieve the following objectives in the Dowa district:

1. To increase access of the poorest and under-served communities to safe water (within a walking distance of 500 meters (from 62 to 90 percent)
2. To increase the coverage of school safe water supply from 76 to 100 percent and improved sanitation in 70 schools ( by 30 percent- Project will fix the base line)
3. To promote hygiene at household, community and school levels using participatory hygiene and sanitation techniques with a view to improving the four key hygiene practices by 20 percent.
4. To strengthen the capacity of local authorities to effectively and efficiently plan, implement, monitor and evaluate integrated water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in schools and surrounding communities

Specific outputs of this contribution:

At Community Level:

• 110.000 people with access to safe water through
• 40 new water facilities.
• 100 rehabilitations of none functioning water facilities.
• 300 repairs of non functioning facilities.
• Village Health and water committees trained in planning.
• 20 Area mechanics trained in major repairs.
• 1,320 care takers trained in routine operation and maintenance.
• Extension workers (HSAs) trained in participatory methods of hygiene promotion.
• 2,200 demonstration latrines constructed for 11,000 poor & vulnerable.
• 2,200 drinking water storage facilities for 11,000 poor & vulnerable.
• 2,200 hand washing facilities for 11,000 poor & vulnerable.
• 110,000 people (especially children and women) improved knowledge and practice of 3 key behaviours through 3.520 hygiene education sessions with demonstration.

At School level:

• 46,200 primary school pupils have access to WASH facilities
• 20 new water facilities.
• Repairs of non functioning facilities.
• 700 permanent girl friendly toilets
• 140 urinals for boys and girls
• 140 hand washing facilities with rain collectors.
• 46,200 pupils with improved knowledge and practice of 3 key behaviours through 840 hygiene education sessions with demonstration.

For further information see UNICEF's document:
SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION IN DOWA DISTRICT IN MALAWI