Transparent Governance for Water, Sanitation and Health - GoTAS

In Mozambique, the mechanisms of accountability to citizens are still weak and/or nearly inexistent, particularly at the local level.

Usually, the local Government does not provide information to the population about plans and budgets pertaining to the provision of basic services, and when it does such information is partial.

The civil society is relatively new and lacks the experience to demand from the government compliance with the basic rights of communities and the adoption of regular accountability mechanisms.

The decentralization process in Mozambique is gaining importance in WatSan sector, but the strengthening of local service delivery capacities continues to be a considerable challenge and more efforts are needed to promote a vibrant civil society capable of demanding high quality service. In the Niassa Province, only 42% of the rural population use safe drinking water and 0.6% use improved sanitation facilities. This situation has significant consequences on the health status of the population as more than 80% of diarrhoeal diseases are attributed to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices.

Within this context, the provision of quality public services that meet the priorities of communities remains a big challenge, especially in what concerns the supply of rural water and sanitation, which are crucial aspects to reduce poverty.

Improve the livelihoods of rural populations in the three target districts through the effective decentralisation of water supply and sanitation provision services, and the active participation of organised citizens in the decision-making process, demanding increased response and transparency.

The main target groups are the citizen’s of the 3 districts selected in the Niassa Province (roughly 265’000 persons). CBOs and Civil Society Organisations will also benefit from the project, as well as the local authorities (province and district) and private service providers working in WSHP.

• Improve the capacity of communities and civil society to know their needs and be able to express them to the water, sanitation and health services.
• Improve the capacity of communities to undertake the routine maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Strengthen the capacity of local governments to plan and provide public services with acceptable standards of transparency and accountability.
• Promote learning, dialogue and field evidence collection to influence policies at the provincial and national level.

Resultados previstos:  

At the level of Demand: The provision of water and sanitation services becomes effective and meets community priorities.

At the level of Supply: The providers of water and sanitation services (district government, private sector and water and sanitation committees) increase resource management efficiency and transparency, and are accountable to the population.

At the level of Policies: Provincial- and national-level policies will be influenced as a result of the dissemination of best practices related with the active participation of citizens in rural water and sanitation planning, decisionmaking and monitoring.

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

The main results of the Entry Proposal phase are:

• Context analyses on governance, WatSan, health promotion and transversal themes were carried out in the selected districts; a participatory planning process was conducted to define the project document.
• An international tender was successfully carried out, leading to the selection of a consortium SNV-Concern Universal.
• Initial preparatory works were carried out, notably a study in the 3 districts to identify community willingness and capacity to pay for water which could be provided through Small Piped Systems.

• Niassa Provincial Government
• Provincial Directorate of Public Works and Housing
• Provincial Directorate of Planning and Finance
• Provincial Directorate of Health
• District Governments of Chimbunila, Lago and Sanga

Fase 1 01.10.2012 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)