End of the first phase of the SWIFT programme in the DRC

The first four-year phase of the SWIFT programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo just ended. It was conducted in fragile contexts between 2014 and 2018.

The SWIFT programme in the DRC was carried out in the provinces of Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu, which all face major challenges in terms of access to hygiene and sanitation services.

Despite the particularly fragile security context in some areas of Kivu, the SWIFT programme was able to meet or exceed expected results.

Water indicator: Beneficiaries use SWIFT water points.
Sanitation indicator: Beneficiaries use latrines up to SWIFT standards.
Hygiene indicator 1: Beneficiaries can name at least 3 key moments for hand washing.
Hygiene indicator 2: A hand washing station is available near the latrine.
Hygiene indicator 3: Beneficiaries can show at least 3 correct hand washing actions.

Sustainability is at the core of the SWIFT programme, which could not succeed without genuine acceptance and collaboration by the communities as well as the different authorities. With SWIFT, local water management structures are empowered and the sustainable approach includes the following aspects:

Technical
Quality materials are used, which comply with international standards.

Natural
Local natural options are used, which are less expensive in terms of maintenance and adapted to the project’s environment.

Institutional
Institutional positioning is ensured via the ASUREP water users associations, which are well structured and recognised by the state and supported by local authorities and technical government services.

Social
Solidarity between the communities is reinforced by the different meetings, the sharing of water resources, community work and participation in the transparent management of water structures.

Financial
An acceptable price is set to access water services.

Awareness-raising

Awareness-raising and advocacy activities were conducted throughout the project, to local authorities to promote the constitutional right to water and sanitation.

A specificity of the SWIFT programme is that it has succeeded in involving territorial administrators, group leaders, local chiefs, as well as technical government services (including the National Service for Rural Hydraulics (SNHR) and the Central Office of the Health Districts). In the event of a problem that the community can’t fix, they can help providing the necessary technical support or find the means and partners to find an adequate solution.

Official recognition

The implementation phase (the construction of water structures and latrines and awareness-raising activities) was followed by a 20-month support phase.  After that, all communities were handed over the installations and now have full ownership of the structures put in place.

Many rural communities were accompanied to receive the “Village assaini” government label. This official certification brings together villagers, doctors in charge of the health disctricts, as well as politico-administrative and traditional local authorities and is a great proof of success for the SWIFT teams and the communities.

In semi-urban areas, semi-professional water management comitees were set up as ASUREPs (Associations d’Usagers des Ressources en Eau Potable) and are officially recognised by the DRC government.