Social Considerations and Community Involvement

Introduction

In addition to the numerous technological elements in consideration for a WaSH facility within Langrug, a number of social elements must also be taken into account to create a successful, sustainable facility. First, a multi-stakeholder approach must be considered as a main element of sustainability in all aspects of the facility. A multi-stakeholder approach brings the efforts of different social actors together, including government organisations, non-government organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), private companies, and community residents; in turn allowing the project to thrive in a way that would be nearly impossible with the incorporation of just a single stakeholder. Community involvement during projects has also proven to be an effective way of building sustainable projects (Manikutty 1997). By integrating the community into all aspects of the project, beginning with planning and design phases, along with the building and construction phase, residents within the community grow a stronger sense of appreciation for their sanitation facility as well as a developed sense of ownership. These feelings are crucial towards the long-term success of any sanitation project (Burra 2003).

Community involvement does not end with the completion of the construction phase of the project. Long-term management options must be taken into consideration for the sustainability of the facility. A number of methods have been implemented in the past in order to ensure the functionality of the facility for as long as possible, most notably caretaker roles and community-based committee programmes. Failing to take into account the various social elements of a sanitation project, regardless of how high the demand for improved water and sanitation may be, will most likely result in a significant lack of care and maintenance, ultimately leading to the failure of a facility as a whole.

Throughout this section, the importance of multi-stakeholder involvement is discussed along with a number of challenges that must be considered. The vital stages of community involvement are then mentioned, as well as long-term management options.

Multi-stakeholder Involvement

Community Involvement

Long-Term Management