| Abstract | The research studied the management performance of a village water supply (VWS) in
Danhsavanh village, Keo-Oudom district, Vientiane province of Lao PDR. The
objectives of this research were to describe institutional framework and arrangements,
examine management performance of the village water supply committee (VWSC),
obtain feedback of water users on the village water supply and suggest
recommendations to strengthen the management performance of the VWSC.
The research was conducted in both water user groups from poor and non-poor
households. Main management performance of the VWSC included the organization
of training programs, meetings with the water user groups, mobilization of resources,
ensuring water quality and adequacy, providing water system protection, performing
regular O&M and cooperating with other agencies. In response to the management
performance of the VWSC, the water users participated in the meetings to discuss
about the water supply issues and attended technical training on the use of the water
supply system. People participated in mobilization of resources, technical training and
O&M.
Regarding the satisfaction of the water users on the management performances of the
VWSC, they were not still so clear about the objectives and activities provided in the
scheme. They were satisfied with the ways the meetings were organized as well as the
water quality but they were still skeptical on technical training provided, O&M,
mobilization of resources and financial and technical support that were managed by
the committee. They were dissatisfied with the water adequacy particularly during the
dry season when water availability is limited even for household consumption.
Main problems of the VWS were identified by the water users including insufficient
water, poor O&M and water quality, lack of financial support and limited technical
knowledge. The water users had constraints on their ability to pay for water fee
among poor households and lack of time to participate in meetings and training
programs organized by the scheme. The VWS generated several types of benefits to
rural households as water users for domestic consumption, the water adequacy was
not sufficient on agricultural purposes. The VWSC had limited capacity in O&M, low
capacity in mobilizing technical and financial support and poor coordination with
other agencies. Among the water users, their main problems were lacked of time to
participate in the meetings and training programs. The users from the poor households
had the problem in the payment of the water fee due to their low income.
A set of recommendations were suggested to both the VWSC and the water users. For
the VWSC, the suggestions were given to improve their management performance
including provision of technical training program to both VWSC and water users,
flexible payment of water fee applied for water users from poor households, water
adequacy, water quality, improving water distribution to water users and enhancing
technical financial support and coordination from other agency. For the water users, two
main suggestions were given to them to strengthen their participation in meetings and
training programs organized by the VWSC and to improve the protection of water
source more effectively. |