Forex Crisis Hampered Malawi Water Project Implementation
The project was extended after being hampered by challenges including forex shortages making procurement difficult in malawi's struggling economy.
DOWA, Malawi — Self Help Africa (SHA) says unstable availability of foreign exchange, fuel shortages, low water tables and hard-to-reach areas hampered implementation of its Dowa Integrated WASH (DIWASH) project in the district, writes Vincent Gunde.
"Unstable availability of forex in the country, unstable availability of fuel, low water table and hard to reach areas were the challenges which hampered the implementation of Diwash-Phase 5 in Dowa district," SHA WASH Project Manager for Dowa Chifundo Mandala said while presenting a progress report to the District Executive Committee.
The $400,000 project funded by Charity Water was implemented from January to December 2023 in the areas of traditional authorities Chiwere, Msakambewa, Mkukula A and B, Dzoole A and B and Mponela.
It has been extended for two months.
Mandala said the project aimed to "improve health, gender equality and resilient livelihoods through sustainable and accountable WASH service delivery in communities, schools and health care facilities."
He cited achievements including rehabilitating 50 boreholes, drilling 99 new ones, providing two piped water systems, conducting quality tests, and recruiting two government water monitoring assistants.
"The project has some sustainability measures such as involvement of the District Council during planning, monitoring and implementation, trained Water Point Committees and System Management Committees," Mandala added.
He said SHA learned "involvement of the District and other stakeholders is key to project implementation as well as strong coordination and collaboration for effective implementation."
The project was extended after being hampered by challenges including forex shortages making procurement difficult in Malawi's struggling economy.