Urban Water and Sanitation in Ghana: How Local Action is Making a Difference

The immediate objective of the initiative was to strengthen successful locally-driven water and sanitation initiatives, starting with a network based on a selection of ongoing initiatives. According to the report, five local organisations actively engaged in local water and sanitation initiatives were identified. This paper deals with People's Dialogue Ghana (PDG), a community-based non-governmental organisation that works in partnership with the Ghana Homeless People's Federation (Federation) to find permanent solutions to urban poverty in Ghana through the improvement of human settlements and shelter conditions.

The paper identifies and discusses the principles and approaches for community mobilisation through which relations are established between government and international organisations. The various stages through which communities and especially women are empowered to take up the water and sanitation challenges in their communities are outlined in the paper with the view to demonstrating how women can make a change even in traditionally male-dominated societies.

According to the report, community participation and building partnerships among savings networks and stakeholders in water and sanitation delivery is a key component of sustainable development. Daily savings and regular meetings provide an opportunity for collaboration among PDG and Federation members and other stakeholders and the community. The Federation's savings process is designed to maximise the amount of contact that people have with each other, strengthening their sense of community. Through these savings programmes, networks in the Federation are able to initiate and seek partnerships to design and implement projects to address their needs.

As stated in the report, community exchange activities are also important for building collaboration. As a result of exchanges, Federation groups and communities build solidarity and share skills and knowledge. PDG and the Federation see partnerships and collaboration as a way to creative consultative participatory relationships.

The project used approaches based on problem-solving and active participation, such as community meetings and sensitisation programmes on individual responsibility. The first phase of the programme involved a community-wide survey to ascertain types and levels of sanitation services available. The second phase adopted the community managed toilets model along with supporting households to construct "soak-aways" behind their houses to take care of domestic waste water. The programme also includes hygiene promotion activities and awareness-raising around proper sanitation. This has resulted in reduced open defecation, regular hand washing after defecation, and proper disposal of child faeces.

According to the report, community mobilisation through federations and savings groups has been the corner stone of the programme strategy and has played a vital role in ensuring effective community support and participation. In general communities are positive and confident in their ability to negotiate development interventions. Community members indicate that they have benefited from their involvement in savings groups, enumerations, and exchange programmes.

The report concludes that authorities and donors should be striving to find ways to support and link up to initiatives such as PDG and the Federation. Additionally, community-led initiatives that draw on the creativity and capacity of local people to take control of their change processes must be integrated into poverty intervention programmes.