4th International Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems
Manila , Philipines - August, 1989

Section B: Community Participation

Paper B.3

Strategies For Overcoming The Obstacle Associated With “Software” Aspects Of Rainwater Catchment Systems Implementation

J.E. Gould

Abstract

During the last decade, significant progress has been made in rainwater catchment systems "hardware", namely in the development of low cost appropriate tank designs and construction techniques. Most of this work has been well documented and is available to fieldworkers throughout the world.

Strategies for overcoming the obstacles associated with the "software" aspects o€ rainwater catchment implementation have been less well documented. These include ways of tackling a lack of awareness, motivation, organization skills and resources amongst communities at grassroots level. Approaches to overcoming these obstacles, such as conducting preliminary surveys, promoting awareness and interest in rainwater collection, setting up organizational framework, arranging training courses and developing techniques for raising funds from both within and beyond the community are considered in this paper. Features common to successful project implementation strategies are outlined and case studies from Kenya, Botswana and Thailand are cited. In the global context, the need to promote interest and awareness in the potential benefits of rainwater catchment technology extends far beyond the need for pure community involvement and includes marketing the technology to government agencies and major international funding bodies. In order to secure the substantial external support needed by poorer communities to subsidize improvements in their water supplies, project proposals have to be presented in a way that donors can manage. Considerable coordination between different projects may be needed to secure this support.

PDF of full document available to members (16pp, 370kb)