Background and objective:
Quelimane City is located along the Cuácua River and suffers from cyclical floods mainly due to the combination of a high water table and heavy rains. This project works to develop a participatory urban development strategy in informal neighbourhoods, where approximately 80% of the Quelimane population resides, with a special focus on water and sanitation conditions.
The project recognizes that problems related to water and sanitation cannot be definitively solved without intervening also on critical issues such as drainage, road network and waste management. It also highlights the crucial importance of community and city council participation at each project stage.
The overall objective of the project is to promote a participatory development strategy by identifying and implementing innovative tools and solutions for improving water and sanitation conditions in degraded peri-urban areas of Quelimane City.
Specific targets are as follows:
Create adequate conditions and strengthen the capacity of the city council and the community in water & sanitation and slum upgrading projects;
Plan and implement activities for improving drainage and road systems efficiency;
Identify, test and apply sustainable solutions to facilitate access to safe drinking water;
Reduce sanitation risks by proposing innovative technology and improving hygienic conditions;
Set up an effective waste management system.
Activities:
The following are underway:
Recruiting local project staff; creating appropriate working conditions within the city council and the Community Committees (CCs);
Construction of two community centres;
Implementing capacity building and awareness activities;
Carrying out regular community consultations, fieldwork activities and surveys in selected slum areas;
Agreeing on management rules at the local level;
Sub-contracting technical team for drainage/roads component; preparing a participatory urban plan for selected slum areas; purchasing building material and implementing improvement work with the local population;
Installing 10 new water points connected to the main supply system and building 20 rainwater harvesting systems;
Building ecological latrines and improving hygienic conditions of two public services;
Purchasing waste management equipment and implementing a waste collection plan.
Results:
Community Committees identified and formed;
Construction on Community Centres started;
Building material for water improvement works acquired;
Several local consultations held;
Management rules drafted.
