Malawi self help rural piped water project, 612-0207 : project assistance completion report (PACR)

The project significantly exceeded its goal by completing 22 new systems serving 314,000 people, compared with the target of 241,000 people. Villagers provided local infrastructure (water tap and health committees), labor (all the trenching for pipes), and maintenance of aprons, slabs, and plumbing hardware. Hygiene education and sanitation promotion (HESP) activities reached an estimated 270,000 people with messages promoting improved latrines, washing slabs, and behavioral practices. The Ministry of Health significantly improved its HESP capabilities. One noteworthy achievement was the development of rural demand for HESP services as well as water supply services. Both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Works have expressed strong interest in expanding their collaboration in HESP to fully complement the well-established water program. A list of 15 high priority projects (14 new schemes serving 245,000 people and one augmentation project involving the replacement of deteriorating asbestos-cement pipes with PVC pipes) have been proposed under USAID/M's new Promoting Health Interventions for Child Survival project.