Sheila Ruyondo is an Advocacy and Institutional Development Project Officer at the Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE) in Uganda. She is also involved in supporting the work of Viva con Agua Kampala and Viva con Agua de sankt, an international charity foundation campaigning for fresh water and sanitation worldwide based in Sankt Pauli, Hamburg, Germany.
Q1. Can you briefly describe your work in Uganda?
I work with Joint Efforts to save the Environment (JESE) as an Advocacy and institutional development project officer. My placement is in Biguli sub-county in the Kamwenge district.
(JESE) is an indigenous Non Governmental Organization (NGO) established in 1993. JESE has established cooperation with various development organizations including: DANIDA, PROTOS, HIVOS, CARE International, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), SIMAVI, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, BD, WaterAid Canada, Water for People, Duct Wash Alliance, SIMAVI, Aqua for all, Rain Foundation and Wetland.
JESE’s has a focus to increase household food security, increase agricultural production and increase incomes in Rwenzori. In addition, JESE promotes environmental and natural resource governance, as well as improving water, sanitation and hygiene within households and schools.
Q2: What are the biggest challenges regarding clean water?
Rapid population growth and rural-urban migration are putting pressure on freshwater resource availability in Uganda. Poor public policy and bureaucracy also contribute to the mismanagement of water. For example, there is a declination in sector resource allocation, fragmentation of sector activities, challenging political economy priorities, lack of coordination amongst authorities stemming from unclear definition of roles and responsibilities, and varied climate and natural hazards. Other problems include water provision technologies, high transaction costs and possible regulatory weaknesses, and inconsistent or ambiguous national rules that hinder effective community – based water management. For instance, the “National Framework for Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supplies” defines the local water users as responsible for O&M (DWD2011b). While this may be in line with the “National Water Policy” (1999) and the demand-driven approach, it contradicts with the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which recognizes water as a human right and hence is considered to support a supply-driven approach.
Q3: What is the government doing to support clean water and water security?
The Government of Uganda in liaison with non-governmental organizations, stakeholder institutions and local communities is working extensively to address this issue. For instance, The Ministry of Water Lands and Environment (MWLE) responsible for initiating national policies and for setting national standards and priorities for water development and management. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), a utility and autonomous parastatal fully owned by the government is in charge of the water supply and sanitation. The Kampala City Council is in charge of on-site sanitation for the City. As such, Uganda has made notable progress in rural water sector coordination and performance, and has improved rural access to improved water sources.
Q4: What is the general health impact of unsafe water and climate change?
Sometimes we need to look at the numbers. One human being in ten does not have access to drinking water. One in three does not have access to adequate sanitation.
Children under the age of five die each year due to unclean water and poor sanitation that lead to various diseases such as diarrhea, worm infestations, and malaria. Climate change and our ever-growing population are global issues, which can only be dealt with through global solutions. In Paris, world leaders came together to protect future generations through a global agreement on climate change. It is an example of how multilateralism works and a reminder of how far we have to go.
Now it is the time for action!
Q5: How well is the government responding to issues of water rights, flooding and drought?
Droughts and floods are among the causes for the unprecedented levels of human mobility worldwide. The government of Uganda responds to these sensitive issues by supporting mobilization of funds from donors through project preparation and fundraising activities. These activities include donors’ roundtables with an aim to improve the livelihood of vulnerable communities by reducing the ravages of flood and droughts, as well as foster food and energy security.
Q6: What new policies will be helpful in the near future?
In many countries there exists a high prevalence of water and sanitation related diseases, causing many people, children in particular, to fall ill or even die. Improved hygiene practices are essential if transmission routes of water and sanitation related diseases are to be cut. In addition to the family, schools are the most important places of learning for children; they have a central place in the community. Schools are a stimulating learning environment for children that eventually lead to positive changes. Thus, the promotion of school WASH ( Water and Sanitation Hygiene) has a double advantage of improving the life of the children and enhancing acquisition of better water, sanitation and hygiene practices in the entire community using the children as promoters.
My area of expertise focuses more on WASH issues particularly in schools with an aim to improve personal hygiene and sanitation practices among children/pupils in the target primary schools.
Q1. Can you briefly describe your work in Uganda?
I work with Joint Efforts to save the Environment (JESE) as an Advocacy and institutional development project officer. My placement is in Biguli sub-county in the Kamwenge district.
(JESE) is an indigenous Non Governmental Organization (NGO) established in 1993. JESE has established cooperation with various development organizations including: DANIDA, PROTOS, HIVOS, CARE International, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), SIMAVI, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, BD, WaterAid Canada, Water for People, Duct Wash Alliance, SIMAVI, Aqua for all, Rain Foundation and Wetland.
JESE’s has a focus to increase household food security, increase agricultural production and increase incomes in Rwenzori. In addition, JESE promotes environmental and natural resource governance, as well as improving water, sanitation and hygiene within households and schools.
Q2: What are the biggest challenges regarding clean water?
Rapid population growth and rural-urban migration are putting pressure on freshwater resource availability in Uganda. Poor public policy and bureaucracy also contribute to the mismanagement of water. For example, there is a declination in sector resource allocation, fragmentation of sector activities, challenging political economy priorities, lack of coordination amongst authorities stemming from unclear definition of roles and responsibilities, and varied climate and natural hazards. Other problems include water provision technologies, high transaction costs and possible regulatory weaknesses, and inconsistent or ambiguous national rules that hinder effective community – based water management. For instance, the “National Framework for Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supplies” defines the local water users as responsible for O&M (DWD2011b). While this may be in line with the “National Water Policy” (1999) and the demand-driven approach, it contradicts with the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which recognizes water as a human right and hence is considered to support a supply-driven approach.
Q3: What is the government doing to support clean water and water security?
The Government of Uganda in liaison with non-governmental organizations, stakeholder institutions and local communities is working extensively to address this issue. For instance, The Ministry of Water Lands and Environment (MWLE) responsible for initiating national policies and for setting national standards and priorities for water development and management. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), a utility and autonomous parastatal fully owned by the government is in charge of the water supply and sanitation. The Kampala City Council is in charge of on-site sanitation for the City. As such, Uganda has made notable progress in rural water sector coordination and performance, and has improved rural access to improved water sources.
Q4: What is the general health impact of unsafe water and climate change?
Sometimes we need to look at the numbers. One human being in ten does not have access to drinking water. One in three does not have access to adequate sanitation.
Children under the age of five die each year due to unclean water and poor sanitation that lead to various diseases such as diarrhea, worm infestations, and malaria. Climate change and our ever-growing population are global issues, which can only be dealt with through global solutions. In Paris, world leaders came together to protect future generations through a global agreement on climate change. It is an example of how multilateralism works and a reminder of how far we have to go.
Now it is the time for action!
Q5: How well is the government responding to issues of water rights, flooding and drought?
Droughts and floods are among the causes for the unprecedented levels of human mobility worldwide. The government of Uganda responds to these sensitive issues by supporting mobilization of funds from donors through project preparation and fundraising activities. These activities include donors’ roundtables with an aim to improve the livelihood of vulnerable communities by reducing the ravages of flood and droughts, as well as foster food and energy security.
Q6: What new policies will be helpful in the near future?
- Water should be recognized as a priority area to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development worldwide. With water scarcity and water stress on the rise, there is only one-way to deal with this challenge: together, cooperating beyond borders and political divides.
- Permanently Protecting Water Supplies Through Land Conservation.
- Land use strategies should be utilized to control water demand.
- Conservation pricing should be enabled and encouraged. Prices send a very effective signal to customers. Prices should reflect the real costs in infrastructure expense, environmental harm and forgone economic opportunities. Conservation pricing allows consumers to make informed decisions about water use.
In many countries there exists a high prevalence of water and sanitation related diseases, causing many people, children in particular, to fall ill or even die. Improved hygiene practices are essential if transmission routes of water and sanitation related diseases are to be cut. In addition to the family, schools are the most important places of learning for children; they have a central place in the community. Schools are a stimulating learning environment for children that eventually lead to positive changes. Thus, the promotion of school WASH ( Water and Sanitation Hygiene) has a double advantage of improving the life of the children and enhancing acquisition of better water, sanitation and hygiene practices in the entire community using the children as promoters.
My area of expertise focuses more on WASH issues particularly in schools with an aim to improve personal hygiene and sanitation practices among children/pupils in the target primary schools.
- Fundraising and mobilizing resources for the program.
- Commissioning and undertaking project based baselines and research studies.
- Developing and implementing standard operating procedures within the respective program.
- Producing monthly and quarterly project progress reports, work plans and budgets that conform to organizational demands.
- Developing strategies and approaches to mainstream lobbying and advocacy issues in field program implementation.
- Developing project based M&E frameworks and tools.
- Supervising, monitoring project activities and documenting best practices, policy briefs and cases stories.
- Ensure effective data collection and tracking of results, indicators, outcomes and impact assessment
- In liaison with the line program manager, organize monthly in house project reviews to enhance coordination and alignment of project outputs, results and outcomes.
- Developing and implement a capacity building plan for community based structures and beneficiaries,
- Developing strategies and business models to contribute to the sustainability of JESE as an institution.
- Carry out any other assigned duties in line with the organisation's mission and objectives.
