Final Report: Gestión Comunitaria del Agua

The Cooperative Agreement NºAID-526-A-14-00002 between the Fundación Moisés Bertoni and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aimed to strengthen FEPAJUS and promote community-based water management. The agreement had three main objectives: to fortify FEPAJUS, consolidate a model of efficient management in community water organizations, and raise awareness about the importance of safe water and user participation in water management. To achieve these goals, the project implemented several components, including the strengthening of FEPAJUS, the consolidation of a model of efficient management in community water organizations, and a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe water and user participation in water management. The project's hypothesis was that a strengthened FEPAJUS and a systematized community water management model would lead to better access and governance of water systems for vulnerable populations. The project also hypothesized that women-led community water organizations would have better results and higher chances of success, and that a FEPAJUS-managed Center of Supplies would contribute to the organization's strengthening and the empowerment of community water organizations. The project's results showed that the FEPAJUS was indeed strengthened, and it now leads and represents the interests of the sector. The project also contributed to the updating of the SENASA law, which includes the link between SENASA and the associations. Additionally, the project involved DAPSAN, the sector's regulatory entity, which promotes the involvement of municipalities in water management through the creation of Water Units. The project's activities were designed to achieve the expected results, including the influence of FEPAJUS on public and private policies to benefit community water management. The project's indicators showed that the FEPAJUS was able to influence policies and had the opportunity to learn from other community water management experiences through exchange programs. The project also formed trainers and developed a strategy for financial sustainability, which was achieved through the creation of the Center of Supplies. The project's financial summary showed that the budget was allocated to various activities, including the strengthening of FEPAJUS, the consolidation of a model of efficient management in community water organizations, and the campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe water and user participation in water management. The project's administration and operations were also evaluated, including personnel and office management, internal control, and external audit. Overall, the project was successful in achieving its objectives and contributing to the strengthening of FEPAJUS and the promotion of community-based water management in Paraguay. The project's results and lessons learned will be useful for future initiatives in the sector.