Uganda is not a water scarce country but poor land management practices are leading to catchment degradation resulting in river siltation and degraded rivers banks. GWEFODE’s work is to improve catchment management and restore / maintain environmental flows in critical freshwater ecosystems that are not only important for safeguarding Uganda’s biodiversity but are also important sources for domestic (drinking and agriculture), municipal and industrial use.
The program also focuses on increasing access to clean and safe water and improving sanitation and hygiene (WASH) through developing partnerships with government entities such as Ministry of Water and Environment helping to secure water resources for nature, sustainable productive use whilst also increasing access to clean and safe water for water stressed communities. The topography of many areas in South-western Uganda is hilly with no water sources making it difficult for many people to access gravity flow water. Therefore, Rainwater harvesting continues to be a reliable method of providing access to clean water for many communities, particularly those located in hilly areas away from municipal water distribution infrastructures. Rainwater harvesting tanks provide a simple and relatively low-cost method of water collection that is generally easy to install and maintain.
Under this program, GWEFODE will
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Promote sustainable management of water as a natural resource through capacity building, advocacy, awareness raising, information dissemination and strengthening of water management, governance and preservation systems in order to increase access to adequate clean safe water and sanitation facilities to reduce on water borne diseases in communities.
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Support and promote Domestic / Households and communal rain water harvesting through construction of facilities such as Rain Water Harvesting and storage Tanks, Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines to improve hygiene and sanitation at households and schools, Establishment of school health and sanitation clubs.
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Empower women to challenge gender stereotypes through training Women as masons in water tank construction and maintenance equipping them with knowledge and skills to improve access to water, sanitation and Hygiene in their household and in the community and improving their livelihood skills for future employment and income.
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Improve the management of water sources through refresher trainings and sensitization of community members especially women and children on better use, operation and maintenance of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Facilities
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Promote and protect women right to water and sanitation at community level through capacity building in Human rights monitoring, advocacy and reporting by establishing Human Rights and Water Protection Committees (HRWPC’s), Water User Committees (WUC’s) and mentoring women groups in Water resources management.
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Undertake advocacy campaigning on Water issues which empowers women and communities to carry out advocacy on Water issues by themselves, establishing new women groups and strengthening existing ones thinking of innovative ways of how to bring water close to themselves and their communities through initiating Rain Water Harvesting Tank Schemes
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Train local women groups from water stressed areas as masons in construction of water tanks empowering them to become efficient water users and managers, engaging in advocacy and lobbying government leaders to bring water to their communities, participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation, dialogues, Documenting and dissemination of community voices and media campaigns for emergency advocacy issues that need attention or facilitation and formation of community based monitors and evaluators.
