Assessing sustainability of community managed NGOs’ WASH interventions in rural Zimbabwe: the case of Chivi district in Masvingo province

Abstract

Abstract Availability and accessibility to water and good sanitation add considerably towards improving human lives and in the development of every country. In a number of instances, central governments have been unable to meet the requirements and needs of their respective citizens in totality, mainly due to capacity constraints and other competing demands. This has seen non-government organizations (NGOs) inspired to provide communities with those services. Concern has been raised about sustainability of community managed NGOs’ services in rural areas of Zimbabwe. This study assesses sustainability of community managed NGOs’ rural WASH services with a view to producing recommendations on how sustainability of NGOs’ services might be enhanced by working with other stakeholders. The study's major finding was that NGOs’ services in rural areas lack a clear mechanism of enhancing continuity. Forty-five households, three water point committees, two schools and one clinic from three wards were interviewed. Respondents were chosen using purposive sampling techniques from ward 18, 19 and 20. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the use of an interview guide. The study recommends the need for government to prioritize the rural WASH sector in resource allocation. This will ensure that infrastructure maintenance and repairs are implemented in conjunction with involved communities.