Water, environment and sanitation

Impact

© UNICEF/01-04-Pirozzi

A man takes a breather next to a spring in Somalia in 2001. UNICEF has developed a database of existing and potential water sources in northern Somalia.

The priorities of the water sector are restoring and upgrading water facilities in the rural areas and urban centres through a cost sharing approach with community involvement, and assisting in management arrangements for all functional water systems.

The priorities in the environmental sanitation programme are:
- Establishing hand washing facilities in schools;
- Conducting hygiene and sanitation training in schools and at the household level;
- Promoting hand washing and correct storage of drinking water.

At least 195,000 more people drank clean water in 2004 as a result of UNICEF's work in Somalia.

Key results include:
- Increasing the supply of safe water by constructing urban water supply systems, rehabilitating and protecting water sources, and installing necessary equipment.
- Improving the capacity of local authorities and communities to maintain water sources by training them in maintaining and repairing the structures, maintaining service logbooks for power generators, and keeping financial records of incoming revenue and ongoing costs of operating the systems.
- Improved hygiene and sanitation practices by constructing latrines and hand washing facilities, and training teachers, water point operators and community members on the need for and use of sanitation facilities.

During 2004, two urban water supply systems were completed and 27 rural bore wells were rehabilitated with installation of drinking water points and water tanks constructed.  Private sector investment and management of the water systems was a key achievement both in the northwest and northeast, and was the result of extensive advocacy efforts at the community and local government levels. On-site training on pump and generator maintenance took place in all zones in conjunction with construction and rehabilitation activities. UNICEF supported communities in the protection and rehabilitation of 137 shallow wells, construction of 14 twin latrines for boys and girls in schools, piped water connection to additional six schools and construction of additional four water tanks in four schools. Approximately 10,000 school children received direct access to school water, sanitation and hand washing facilities in 2004.

Of the 137 shallow wells, 59 shallow wells were rehabilitated to respond to the needs of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities as part of emergency interventions. 

These combined activities were undertaken through partnerships with communities, schools, private self-help groups and local authorities. Approximately 43,000 people, mainly women from targeted communities, in 2004 received hygiene messages on proper hand washing practices and safe handling of drinking water at the household level.

UNICEF provided support to the Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources in the self-declared republic of Northwest  Somalia ('Somaliland') in the development of a Water Policy, National Water Strategy and a Water Act.   The Water Act 2004 has been endorsed by the Somaliland government.