Improve Access to potable water, hygiene and sanitation in Masisi, North Kivu Access to safe drinking water is problematic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were 57% of the population have no access to clean water in urban area and 69 % in rural area. Over 96% of the population in rural area reported to have no access to good sanitary facility, according to UNICEF, MICS2010. The lack of access to clean water source and sanitary facilities has been the main cause of many diseases, including cholera that has become endemic in the eastern part of the country. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to water born diseases. Furthermore, the war that has ravaged the country for more than 15 years have left no infrastructures or any functioning social facilities like school and heath centres.  In 2011 DRC reported 21,500 cases of cholera with 580 deaths (lethality rate 3%) as a result of poor hygiene, sanitation, and lack of clean water (WHO, December 2011 report). 

CAFOD’s man partner, Caritas Goma, is one of the leading members of the WASH cluster at provincial level. CARITAS have developed this two year project as part of IPDF Match Fund 2012 that aim to respond to WASH challenges in three locations in North Kalehe and Masisi, including Mweha north Kalehe, Kingi and Rukwi in Masisi. The project will build 3 mini addictions providing up to 20 public drinking water fountain; in addition 20 natural springs will be built providing water to more than 5000 people. 

This project aligns well with the humanitarian action plan 2012developed in collaboration with all humanitarian partners and  which priorities included the reduction of mortality and morbidity rate; increase access to potable water, sanitation and hygiene in locations where cholera is endemic, where diarrhoea is the first killer of children after malaria, and the root cause of malnutrition. 

Sanitation portion of the project will build 100 family latrines and 20 doors for public toilets, 130 hygienic Kits will be distributed followed by a strong community education on hygiene.. The project will benefit at least 14,911 people and will be implemented within two year period -November 2012, to October 2014.
This project contributes to the following DFID Match Fund outcome indicators:
•	Number of women and men with access to potable water as a result of project activities with partner organisations: 21,582 persons (11,222 women, 10,359 men);
•	Number of women and men with access to improved sanitation as a result of project activities with partner organisations: 1,737 persons (904 women and 833 men)
•	Number of women and men with access to knowledge and means for improved hygiene as a result of hygiene promotion activities delivered with partner organisations: 23,319 persons;
•	Number of CAFOD civil society partner organisations with evidence of sex-disaggregated data, gender mainstreaming policies or strategies in place: 1.

To achieve this outcome, CAFOD will work with CARITAS GOMA and it network of church partners. An initial KAP survey will be conducted to set baselines, and then the project will be implemented during a period of 24 months. A need assessment was conducted and the community was consulted and participated in the design of this project. The community will continue to be involved throughout the project implementation and will provide manual labour, sites and advices. A steering committee was formed and will be trained and serves as key implementing partner, participating in monitoring and evaluation. The project will build a sense of ownership and will empower the community to upkeep and maintain facilities. The local government will also be involved through health Zones, working with specialised laboratory based in Goma (AMI-KIVU), they will support trainings and will also use their mobile kits and their Goma base for water testing and certification.