Output-Based Aid (OBA) is a performance-based payment to service providers that subsidizes the cost of providing basic services to users. The aim of OBA in the case of Rukingiri is to improve the access to safe water, since users' tariffs do not cover the full cost of providing you water. However this subsidy is only paid to the provider after it delivers the agreed outputs: yard tap connections and water service delivered for a specified time. OBA has been desiggned as an incentive mechanisms to improve water provider's performance and effectiveness.
In Rukungiri, if the water provider, whose name is Water Supply Services Limited, does not deliver specific outputs, it won’t get paid. This new type of contract is known as OBA
What changes is OBA trying to implement in Rukungiri?
Explicit subsidies: Subsidy support to users is clearly defined: who gets the support for exactly what service.
Payment on output delivery: The service provider is held accountable to deliver on concrete outputs.
Monitoring based on results: Specific results should be the indicators for monitoring.
Sustainability: Subsidies should be set to help demand for water meet supply.
But OBA is just a part of the puzzle. The private operator has a 5-year contract which requires certain performance standards, and these are monitored by the Local Authority and the Ministry of Water and Emvironment -- and of course, the user!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Replicating previous experience in Wobulenzi. Now in Busia and Rukungiri
As you might know, the Ugandan government is committed to improving access and quality of water and sanitation service delivery. In this regard, the ongoing and the new stage of the program financed by the World Bank Institute are a response to a request for country–based capacity development initiatives to promote transparency and accountability within the water sector. The replication of the program in Busia and in Rukungiri is a second stage of the capacity building program ”Improving Governance in the Water Sector through Social Accountability, Communication and Transparency, which has been ongoing in the town of Wobulenzi since May 2008. This second in Busia and Rukungiri that will take place from 2009 to 2010.
The main goal of this second stage is continuing promoting better governance in the water sector in Uganda by fostering access to information, citizen participation, transparency, and efficient communication activities while monitoring the implementation of water programs in other two towns: Busia and Rukungiri. In the case of Rukungiri, the Ministry is piloting a new type of contract with the private operator, where the operator only gets paid after delivering certain defined results. Therefore, this program not only will monitor water provision, but also will compare performance of the water service provision under different sets of incentives . This will be done through the application of baseline surveys or citizen report card, a baseline water quality test, a follow-up quality test one year later, and a follow-up survey one year later.
During the implementation, we shall be sharing information with you on the progress, challenges and lessons leant. Feel free to also visit our blog from this program and post your comments, or send us questions about the program to our email (netwasuganda@gmail.com)
The main goal of this second stage is continuing promoting better governance in the water sector in Uganda by fostering access to information, citizen participation, transparency, and efficient communication activities while monitoring the implementation of water programs in other two towns: Busia and Rukungiri. In the case of Rukungiri, the Ministry is piloting a new type of contract with the private operator, where the operator only gets paid after delivering certain defined results. Therefore, this program not only will monitor water provision, but also will compare performance of the water service provision under different sets of incentives . This will be done through the application of baseline surveys or citizen report card, a baseline water quality test, a follow-up quality test one year later, and a follow-up survey one year later.
During the implementation, we shall be sharing information with you on the progress, challenges and lessons leant. Feel free to also visit our blog from this program and post your comments, or send us questions about the program to our email (netwasuganda@gmail.com)
Outputs of the Programme
* Using the citizen report card, will develop a baseline (June 2009) in the two peri-urban growth centers on water service provision to establish the benchmarks upon which improvements in access, quality, and governance, redress grievances, attention to customers, willingness to pay and access to information, etc. will be evaluated by the follow-up survey one year later (June 2010).
* Disseminate information about the new OBA approach introduced into the water sector. This will help increase the incentives for providers to perform better and more efficiently. The OBA approach is now being used in Wobulenzi and in Rukungiri, but not in Busia.
* Help to create an environment of information sharing and transparency on the water sector for policymakers and providers to be able to inform their decisions to improve the water service delivery and performance.
* Increase awareness among citizens about their rights and the provision of water whether using an OBA scheme or non-OBA scheme.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Community Score Cards to Evaluate Water Service in Wobulenzi
NETWAS mobilized communities who would attend the community meetings. In the meeting, community members were asked to select their representatives in the community meetings. The criteria to select members were; someone who could articulate issues, read and write. In this case 6 members from the following user groups identified during the survey were selected; business owners (hotels, clinics, schools) Children- 9–15; women, youths, men, local leaders and water vendors. All service Providers attended the service Providers meetings and the interface meetings were attended by representatives from the community and the Service providers. Invitation letters were sent in time and followed up with telephone calls. The venues were identified in time and Lunch and/or snack providers were also identified. Facilitators worked in the evenings to prepare charts for score cards including one that would be used as an example during the plenary, cards for the different focus groups as well as the final community score card. Charts were also prepared for the service providers’ meetings and the interface meetings. All Charts were prepared in the Luganda language. The charts provided space for 3-4 issues identified by the particular group, as well as the programme objective issues of social accountability, transparency and dialogue.
Six community meetings were held for community members from Upper East/West and Kikasa in Bukalasa, Kigulu, Kitante, Gwafu and Sikanusu in Wobulenzi. An average of 50 participants attended these meetings. The main purpose of the community meetings was to allow users of a water service to share their experiences, identify priority areas for improvement as well as the roles and contributions they can make towards improving governance, management and delivery of water services. NETWAS had already mobilized communities. Focus group discussions were held in each meeting for women, men, children, local leaders, youth and business community.
Four service provider’s self- assessment meeting took place. One was carried out for Bukalasa College (one of the two private provdiers evaluated in this program), and three for Wobulenzi Town Council service provider (Trandit Ltd) respectively. Members included, the Water Board Members, NGOs, Trandit Company (the operator that providers water to the core urban area of Wobulenzi), Councilors and Kiosk owners. Only one meeting was held for Bukalasa because the issues for Kikasa had already been addressed in the first meeting. The objective of this meeting was to give service providers the opportunity to discuss and share their views on the quality of services and factors that they think or know affect its effectiveness. They also proposed activities they think can help improve service delivery, management and governance. The main output of this meeting was a Service Providers Self Assessment Card.
Dissemination of results of the Community Score Card. The results of the CSC were typed and shared with the service Providers. Each community remained with a copy of the cards for reference during implementation. Platforms like the Budget conference in Wobulenzi were used to inform members of not only NETWAS contribution but also to remind members of their plans. Individual meetings were also held with the Principal for Bukalasa to share the outcomes of the meetings. Follow up meetings with the community members and those implementing the plans were made by NETWAS staff.
Preparation for the Inter-face Meeting. All the previous activities described above served as preparation for the inter-face meetings, and it is a process of gaining trust from each other and building a fruitful relationship. Indeed what it built for being able of having an inter-face meeting is crucial for having a lasting relationship. This is part of the action learning process that is a step by step path that includes reflection, learning, fine-tuning, and implementation of the joint action plan.
The Inter-face-Meeting and Agreements between Users and Providers. Five (5) Interface meetings were held for Sikanusu, Upper East and West, Kikasa, Gwafu and Kitante plus Kigulu. The last one was combined as the service provider was one and the issues were almost similar. The interface meeting brought together all stakeholders after their independent meetings, to present, negotiate, agree on a joint position, and develop a joint plan of action. The main output of this meeting and the whole process was a Joint Action Plan. The joint action plans were funded by the Service Provides and the community members using their resources. The meetings were very fruitful, as they enabled the two parties to understand why certain things were being done, especially on the part of the service provider. It was evident that the process had triggered channels of dialogue between the two parties. Some of the agreed actions in the joint action plan were acted on immediately. For example, on the Kikasa community, members requesting for telephone contacts of key personnel of the service provider at Bukalasa, the contacts were provided there and then. After making the joint action plans between the providers and water users, the NETWAS representative pledged to contribute 500,000 towards the plan of each of the 6 communities and community members agreed on how to spend this money.
Six community meetings were held for community members from Upper East/West and Kikasa in Bukalasa, Kigulu, Kitante, Gwafu and Sikanusu in Wobulenzi. An average of 50 participants attended these meetings. The main purpose of the community meetings was to allow users of a water service to share their experiences, identify priority areas for improvement as well as the roles and contributions they can make towards improving governance, management and delivery of water services. NETWAS had already mobilized communities. Focus group discussions were held in each meeting for women, men, children, local leaders, youth and business community.
Four service provider’s self- assessment meeting took place. One was carried out for Bukalasa College (one of the two private provdiers evaluated in this program), and three for Wobulenzi Town Council service provider (Trandit Ltd) respectively. Members included, the Water Board Members, NGOs, Trandit Company (the operator that providers water to the core urban area of Wobulenzi), Councilors and Kiosk owners. Only one meeting was held for Bukalasa because the issues for Kikasa had already been addressed in the first meeting. The objective of this meeting was to give service providers the opportunity to discuss and share their views on the quality of services and factors that they think or know affect its effectiveness. They also proposed activities they think can help improve service delivery, management and governance. The main output of this meeting was a Service Providers Self Assessment Card.
Dissemination of results of the Community Score Card. The results of the CSC were typed and shared with the service Providers. Each community remained with a copy of the cards for reference during implementation. Platforms like the Budget conference in Wobulenzi were used to inform members of not only NETWAS contribution but also to remind members of their plans. Individual meetings were also held with the Principal for Bukalasa to share the outcomes of the meetings. Follow up meetings with the community members and those implementing the plans were made by NETWAS staff.
Preparation for the Inter-face Meeting. All the previous activities described above served as preparation for the inter-face meetings, and it is a process of gaining trust from each other and building a fruitful relationship. Indeed what it built for being able of having an inter-face meeting is crucial for having a lasting relationship. This is part of the action learning process that is a step by step path that includes reflection, learning, fine-tuning, and implementation of the joint action plan.
The Inter-face-Meeting and Agreements between Users and Providers. Five (5) Interface meetings were held for Sikanusu, Upper East and West, Kikasa, Gwafu and Kitante plus Kigulu. The last one was combined as the service provider was one and the issues were almost similar. The interface meeting brought together all stakeholders after their independent meetings, to present, negotiate, agree on a joint position, and develop a joint plan of action. The main output of this meeting and the whole process was a Joint Action Plan. The joint action plans were funded by the Service Provides and the community members using their resources. The meetings were very fruitful, as they enabled the two parties to understand why certain things were being done, especially on the part of the service provider. It was evident that the process had triggered channels of dialogue between the two parties. Some of the agreed actions in the joint action plan were acted on immediately. For example, on the Kikasa community, members requesting for telephone contacts of key personnel of the service provider at Bukalasa, the contacts were provided there and then. After making the joint action plans between the providers and water users, the NETWAS representative pledged to contribute 500,000 towards the plan of each of the 6 communities and community members agreed on how to spend this money.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Keeping Stakeholders Informed
One crucial part of this program is to engage all stakeholders during the process of implementing the program to promote ownership and commitment. That is mind, NETWAS decided to open a Blog and keep it updated, so that everyone could be informed step by step over the process about our achievements and also about our mistakes, challenges and goals. Besides the communication mechanisms used to inform stakeholder, NETWAS has held Meetings with Wobulenzi stakeholders since the beginning of the program. Having this relationship with the authorities has been crucial for the since the Town Water engineers for both Bukalasa and Wobulenzi have been instrumental in mobilization of relevant stakeholders in Wobulenzi and Bukalasa.
Meetings with the New Town Clerk: NETWAS had the last November a meeting with the new Town Clerk (Mr Sebbudde Joseph) and his staff. Some of the issues discussed with the Town Clerk have included:
* Project objectives and activities, the town clerk appreciated and said he can now confidently talk about the project. Previously he could not respond to some of the queries by the councilors.
* Water quality monitoring of the system
* Since the Town council has an internet facility, members showed the staff how to access the blog from the internet
* Town clerk provided a list of other important stakeholders to update the current list together with the e-mail addresses and telephone numbers.
Meetings with Bukalasa Agricultural College service provider: Meetings in Bukalasa were held to share the reports on progress of the project with staff during the previous quarter. Two meetings were held on November 2008 and some of the issues discussed included:
* Water quality results of the survey
* sharing hard copy progress reports together with water board members ( summary for the target group)
* Involvement of board members in dissemination of results
* Time for the meetings
Meetings with Trandit , the OBA Provider in Wobulenzi: Meetings with Trandit service provider were held to brief them on the Project, share the reports on progress of the project with staff for the previous quarter. Two meetings were held on November 2008 and some of the issues discussed included:
* The contact persons who will actively participate/follow the process of the Project
* Benefits of the Programme to all staff and the company in improving services to users
* List of the staff and their contacts for easy communication (included Trandit zonal manager for Luweero and the General Manager)
* Usage of Blog
* Revival of water treatment plant
Meetings with Good Governance Working Group: A meeting in November 2008 was held with the Governance working group to update them on the progress and share project materials. The meeting discussed the scaling up of initiatives in other towns and documentation of the process. The members of this group asked NETWAS to continue sharing the hard copies as well as the soft copies as the internet facilities are not reliable.
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