Siliana wells/rural hygiene (OPG AID/NE-G-1641)

Final PES covers the period 8/79-12/82 and is based primarily on a field evaluation conducted by CARE, the grantee. While the project achieved most of its construction objectives, efforts to improve health, maintenance, and community participation were not achieved or only partly achieved. A total of 16 springs and 22 cisterns were improved, 10 surface wells renovated and motorized, and 130 latrines installed at schools and homes. CARE provided training to 208 Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) front-line workers through 10 workshops and trained 9 construction crews and two 3-man maintenance teams. As no new water points were developed, the project did not increase the quantity of water available, and due to maintenance problems (at handpump sites in particular), the project had only limited impact on improving the quality of water available. Although problems of maintenance of handpump sites were not overcome, springs and motorized surface well sites are relatively better maintained. Health education efforts focused on training MOPH personnel in conveying health information to the public. Pre and post tests indicated that trainees increased their knowledge of rural health and santitation issues by 10-12%, but there are no data as to the impacts the trained personnel have had on the water hygiene knowledge and practices of beneficiaries at water points. There was minimal beneficiary involvement in the project, due to the top-down approach to implementation standard in Tunisia. Several lessons were learned. The number of sites should have been limited to those where the people wanted their water point improved and were prepared to participate in improvement and management. Handpumps are inappropriate for public use among rural, dispersed populations in Tunisia. Health education activities should be in direct contact with the beneficiary population and in tandem with the training of health education personnel. CARE should try harder to learn from its experience in other countries, in terms of project design, implementation, and management. (Near East evaluation abstract, modified)