Rehabilitation of 4 Wells & Pumps

Current status

The city of Bla is susceptible to inundation, which recently destroyed 4 water wells. This deprives 54 women and their families from safe drinking water and water for the production and sale of vegetables. More time is needed to fetch water from water sources far away. Especially girls are affected and have less time for school.
The Soroptimist Club Kalmar of Sweden partially funds the project with a contribution of Euro 2000. The project has started with the rehabilitation of 2 wells. The community has decided to settle for all the employment costs for the project, either in cash or kind.

The main objective of the project is to empower women and promotion of gender equality by improved access to safe drinking water and water for production and sale of vegetables. Four collapsed wells will be rehabilitated and installed with 4 hand and 4 foot pumps. This will result in the provision of safe water to 54 female vegetable sellers and their families.

Other results include:
- Economic development and empowerment for the women and their families,
- Improved school enrolment and school results for 102 children, especially girls, since less time is needed to carry water to their homes and garden.
- Rehabilitation of 4 wells and installation of 4 hand and 4 foot pumps
- Improvement of the health of 250 household by access to affordable vegetables

The project will be implemented with contributions of various actors (Well Committee, the community, the supplier of the materials, the well constructors), which will be supervised by a Hydraulic technician with knowledge on water, environment and pubic health.

The Soroptimist Club Espoir Bamako will supervise the financial aspects of the project and will be responsible for the financial reporting on the project.
The Soroptimist Club Kalmar of Sweden has partially funded the project with a contribution of Euro 2000. The project has started with the rehabilitation of 2 of the 4 wells. The community has decided to settle for all the employment costs for the project, either in cash or kind.

1. Capacity development of women by involving them as equal partners in their water project.
2. Empowerment of women and promotion of gender equality by provision of safe water to 54 female vegetable sellers and their families
3. Economic development & empowerment of women by provision water for growing and sale of vegetables
4. Improvement of school enrolment and school results for 102 children, especially girls, since less time is needed to carry water to their homes and garden

The rehabilitation of the 4 wells will be managed by a Well Committee, which will be in charge of the use and maintenance of the wells. Women participate in the Well Committee as equal partners in development. The problem identification, the selection of the wells and the choice of the facilities has be done by the women’s group. The Well Committee is supervised by the local women’s organisation and the Head of the village. In cooperation with the public service institutions, the Well Committee will also monitor the water quality and work on issues like public health and sanitation. The water from the wells will not be sold but each water user will pay a monthly contribution to cover the operation and maintenance costs.
The project will be implemented in cooperation with and with contributions from various actors (Well Committee, the community, the supplier of the materials, the well constructors). The implementation of the project will be supervised by a Hydraulic technician with knowledge on water, environment and public health.
The Soroptimist Club Espoir Bamako will supervise the financial aspects of the project and be responsible for the financial reporting on the project.