Community water systems and small farm irrigation

The project will build upon CARE"s experience in two previous water-related OPG"s (5210076 and 5210112) in Northwest Haiti. Project water systems will serve communities of 4,000-9,000 inhabitants (unlike the previous projects which served communities of about 1,000 residents), while the irrigation systems will each irrigate 60-80 ha. Construction and maintenance activities will depend heavily on community participation. Communities will collect locally available materials such as rock, sand, and gravel and will contribute labor; workers will be compensated through food-for-work contracts negotiated with participating community councils. Also, although most systems will be of the gravity flow type requiring little maintenance, CARE has specified that community councils assess each user family $0.50 for the purchase of maintenance materials. Two persons from each community will be trained to provide routine maintenance; maintenance tools will be provided to the communities. Water user associations will be organized to ensure ongoing irrigation system management. CARE will utilize Irrigation Service extension agents trained under a previous A.I.D. project to help the associations develop management systems for resolving water charge, revenue use, and canal maintenance issues. CARE will work closely with the National Potable Water Service (SNEP) throughout the project.