CO-WASH Support to DRC refugees in 2023 This project shall enhance adequate and safe water supply services, promote hygiene practices, provide appropriate sanitation facilities, reduce environmental health risks, and ensure conditions that allow approximately over 334,703   refugees and hosting populations in Kyaka II, Rwamwanja and Kyangwali to live with good health, dignity, comfort, and safety.

The average water supply across the three settlements of Kyaka II, Rwamwanja and Kyangwali is currently at 14.2 l/p/d with Rwamwanja posting the lowest per capita of13.3 l/p/d, followed by Kyaka II 14.7 l/p/d, and lastly Kyangwali 14.7 l/p/d (WASH Gap Matrix). Water trucking constitute about 1.6% of the water supplied in Kyaka II, 0.2% in Kyangwali and 0% in Rwamwanja (UNHCR Gap Matrix, October 2022). The sector key strategic priority is to eliminate water trucking which is costly, unreliable, and unsustainable to ensure effective and efficient access tosafe water for refugees and hosting communities. Another limiting factor to water supply within the settlements is the energy source, on average across all the three settlements only 11.3% of piped water supplied is through solar energy, 10.7% from national grid power and 78% is by fuel driven pumping systems (generators). The over dependence on fuel energy source has made the cost of water production very high. Furthermore, Low groundwater potential in Kyaka settlement has also limit water provision, this has led to overdependence on surface water sources that involves high costs in term of water treatment requirements. In addition, water scarcity is another major challenge, increasing number of refugees without a corresponding expansion of water supply infrastructures has exacerbated the water supply problem.  According to UNHCR Gap Matrix (October 2022), handpumps still contribute immensely to the total refugee water supply with up to 49.87% from the 266 functional handpumps in Kyaka II (65), Rwamwanja (89) and Kyangwali (112), with Rwamwanja contributing the highest amount at 64.84%. Despitethis substantial contribution, the present management models do not adequately cover handpumps, leaving their governance mainly to Water User Committees (WUCs) with some limited support from WASH Partners. This approach has faced several challenges such as 1) financial and social challenges due to irregular community contributions towards O<(>&<)>M, misuse of funds, political influence, poor record keeping and lack of accountability, and volunteerism in water point management, and 2) poor planning for O<(>&<)>M, which results in prolonged downtimes and increased maintenance costs. Handpump repair efficiency and quality are further hampered by a limited spare parts supply chain for handpump repair.

In term of management of water supply facilities, in Kyaka and Kyangwali the water systems are still under the management of UNHCR through humanitarian partner Oxfam whereas in Rwamwanja, the management of the water supply system has already been transitioned to NWSC which is a more sustainable way of providing water tothe refugees and the neighbouring host communities. NWSC is a government parastatal utility company mandated by the government of Uganda to supply water to population within urban and rural growth centres in the country. Efforts are also ongoing to ensure provision of water supply services in the two settlements are gradually transitioned to government utility approach. To improve on the management of the handpump, there is also ongoing effort to create linkages of the HPMA to work with the district and improve access to spare parts by opening handpump spare part shops within the settlement and this is expected to reduce on down time of handpumps. Another bottleneck to water supply within the settlement is water source catchment degradation and a highrisk to sustainable recharge and supplies. The WASH partners have put in several measures to address these challenges which includegroundwater and surface water level monitoring, and water catchment protections.

All interventions planned under this objective, target an increase in per capita access to water supply from 13.3 L/P/D to 20 LP/D, which is the UNHCR minimum standard for water supply.
Crude household Latrine coverage across the three settlements is averagely 65%, which is still far below the UNHCR standard of 85% and Ugandan National standard of 100%: with Kyaka II at 56%, Kyangwali at 77% and Rwamwanja at 62.2% (WaSH Gap Matrix). The fluctuating sanitation coverage is due to continuous influx in all the three settlements. OXFAM will strengthen the roll out of the CLTSapproach where communities will be triggered to adopt the use of locally available materials for household latrine construction andtheir proper use and maintenance while working with closely with VHTs, local leaders, local governments and OPM in the respective settlements. This will be done through enhanced community engagement sessions, encourage development and implementation of community led action plans and enforcement of locally agreed bylaws. A lot of efforts will be puton strengthening the VHT structure, effectiveutilization of refugee welfare committees, model household approach, sanitation and hygiene promotion campaigns, commemoration of global WASH events for enhancing community mobilization as well as other engagement of other community structures as in the gear to achieve an increase in latrine coverage.

Majority of the refugees who are women, EVIs and children (over 80%) still face numerous barriers to access and inclusion in WASH programming. Latrine construction at household level cannot be effectively completed given the numerous child and women headed households and EVIs and PSNs, needing direct assistance to construct latrines of acceptable structural strength and meet recommended standards.

At institutional level, latrine access levels are generally low. Faecal sludge management remains a critical gap with only one mini treatment facility in Kyaka II and none in Rwamwanja and Kyangwali refugee settlements and in all refugee hosting districts. The use of Gulper technology, safe burying and hiring cesspool emptier in Kyangwali and Rwamwanja continue to be unsustainable in terms of cost and environment health aspects. Despite recognisable efforts by the operation, WASH NFI distribution, soap, water storage containers, and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) materials is still below recommended Sphere minimum standards owing to budgetary limitations. In most institutions, MHM spaces are either unavailable, lacking in hygiene supplies like soap and water,or not safe/private for girls to use. Solid waste management especially in markets, trading centres and other public places, remain a challenge associated with little adherence to safe waste disposal, high costs of transport, limited space for safe wastedisposal, and little compliance on paying polluter fees by refuges and partners, lack of engineered waste management facilities among others. Community based structures such as solid waste management groups in major trading centres, VHTs will be strengthened and engagement of local government and OPM to step up the community partner mobilization towards interventions for improved sanitation and hygiene practices in institutions, at community and household levels. Engagements with private entrepreneurs, CBOs and community groups dealing in waste collection, reusing, and recycling will be strengthened across all the locations to enhancesustainable solid waste management. All project interventions planned under this objective, target an improve in Satisfactory and dignified conditions of sanitation and hygiene for all persons of concern.

Water supply approaches will focus on onboarding community structures towards the transition process by strengthening the water supply and sanitation board (WSSB), water user committees, handpumps mechanics association, strengthen the already set borehole spare part out lets through creating supply for hand pump spare parts and strengthening of HPMA and WUC’s as well as enhancing community engagements and mobilization towards payment for water user fees in close collaboration with the hosting district water departments and OPM. Our Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion will be approached through creating livelihood opportunities via sanitation marketing, and child centered hygiene promotion as well as strengthening the VHT structure, sanitation crews – desludging and solid waste management across all the locations. Crosscutting issues such asnatural resource use and water source conflicts, peaceful coexistence, inclusion, gender, and protection as well as safe programming will be mainstreamed throughout implementation of the WASH interventions as well as ensuring there is responsible environment and natural resource management through Water Source Protection and safety Plans and ongoing Monitoring. Learning will be undertaken through research, testing innovative approaches such as low-cost faecal sludge treatment systems, Prepaid Water Dispensing, Vermi compositing, etc). Linkages and working with local partners, local government structures and community engagement will be critical in providing WASH services to the POCs.

The program output will focus on ensuring refugee and host settlements have access to adequate and safe water, adequate and appropriate sanitary facilities along with increased promotion of good hygiene practices thereby improving lives by limiting the spread of illness and disease.