Just Peace International Inc
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1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT

Problem Scenario
The conflict in NWFP and FATA has severely impacted those least able to shoulder the burden of recovery, significantly increasing the vulnerability of households and entire communities. Even prior to conflict, the conflict affected areas were facing widespread damage to existing water supply schemes which affected the availability of clean water for sanitation and drinking purposes. In addition the access to proper water storage systems and basic hygiene and household NFIs are inadequate in all conflict affected areas.
Widespread damage to existing water supply schemes in conflict affected areas, affects the availability of clean water for sanitation and drinking purposes. Besides the lack of basic sanitation and water facilities, the access to proper water storage systems and basic hygiene elements are inadequate. Moreover, target population rarely treats their drinking water and practical hygiene awareness is low.
Beside communities, School situations are more at risk. In Bajour Agency 506 schools were functional before conflict. Only 20% of the school had Water supply and latrine facilities where as the rest of 80% school had not such facilities. After conflict 62 schools have completely destroyed. According to the statistics of survey conducted by JPI indicates that only 5% of enrolled students only practice safe hygienic practices, while the rest have awareness of hygiene education. In majority of schools students bring water for drinking from their homes as no water supply and storage facility in school. Children use open fields for defecation due to no latrine in school or latrines have been damaged. This situation creates high risk in increase in diarrhea and other water & sanitation born diseases. Beside this due to no availability of water & sanitation facilities parents do not send their children especially female children to school.

Project Justification:
Considering the fact that lack of drinking water and sanitation facilities is one of the main reasons for low enrollment and high drop out rates especially in the girls primary schools in FATA region, it is envisaged that the project would result in an increased female literacy rate through decreased primary school drop out. Moreover children are ready recipients to new experiences and can act as very effective change agents to bring about qualitative and quantitative environmental sanitation changes not only in schools but in the households where they live and in the greater community as well.
 The project will contribute to “child protection and development” by provision of adequate water and sanitation facilities in primary schools besides imparting health and hygiene education. Moreover it will also contribute to improved access of women to water and sanitation facilities, thus contributing to women and children health.
Inadequate school facilities such as latrines, drinking water and easy access can also keep girls away from schools.
Good health and nutrition are not only essential inputs but also important outcomes of basic education of good quality. First, children must be healthy and well-nourished in order to fully participate in education and gain its maximum benefits. Second, education of good quality can lead to better health and nutrition outcomes for children, especially girls, and thus for the next generation of children as well.

 

2. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

The project strategy will be based on the principals of community participation to ensure sustainability.  The specific implementation strategies for school WASH program will be:

1. Promote the concept of participatory approach in order to ensure the involvement and participation of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in assessing the need, planning and decision making process. Principle of community participation in planning, implementation, operation and maintenance and monitoring will be observed;
2. Voice of school children built into school development planning and implementation processes and provision of venues to them where they can take lead in making and taking decisions on issues impacting school environment;
3. Sensitize local opinion leaders and Community Based Organization (CBOs) on project orientation, implementation strategy. 
4. Provide clean and healthy environment 50 school including 17 boys and 33 girl schools, with focus on girl’s primary schools;
5. To reach out-of-school children using child-to-child communication strategy in the project areas
6. School to be used as entry point for promotion of safe water, household latrine construction and hygiene practices, besides to provide skills to girl students to play the role of change agents at home and community.
7. Training of water supply caretakers to ensure sustainable use of the facilities

As per UNICEF implementation strategy supplies such as hand pumps/ pipes, IEC material and hygiene kits will be provided by UNICEF while funds for the rest of the project activities will be provided for implementation. JPI will implement the project in close coordination with the relevant government agencies, concerned PTAs and UNICEF Peshawar office. JPI will utilize its professional staff, male and female, to mobilize and sensitize the community, teachers and conduct teachers and PTAs training.

 

3. PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT:

Overall purpose of the project is the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the WASH services to the government schools affected by the military operations in Bajuar Agency. The WASH interventions will focus to reduce the incidences of water and sanitation related diseases by providing safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion initiatives in the respective 50 schools of Bajuar Agency. The key results of the project are as under:

• 50 schools provided with potable water and adequate sanitation facilities to benefit 10182 school going children (3821 boys and 6361 girls)
• 10182 (6361 Girls & 3821 Boys) students are provided safe drinking water and sanitation facilities through installation of 13 hand pumps and 88 latrines with 50 Hand washing places, Repair and rehabilitation of existing 85 latrine and 50  solid waste disposal bins in the target schools as per Government and child friendly school environment standards.

The project will be implemented combing hardware and software components that are necessary to produce a healthy environment and to develop or support safe hygiene practices. It focuses on development of life-skills, a healthy and safe environment of the target schools.  The PTAs will make contributions in kind mostly labor for the project activities. The PTAs will be responsible for:

• Providing labor support for the construction of the WASH facilities in primary schools;
• Facilitate operation and maintenance of the provided facilities through care taker committees;
• Organize and participate community meeting and hygiene education sessions;
• 100 % of all children in target schools are informed of importance of hand washing, proper use of latrine and causes of intestinal worms;
• 100 % of provided facilities are effectively utilized and well maintained in the target schools;
• WASH NFIs (Hygiene kits and soap etc) will be provided to every student of target schools to ensure safe hygienic practices that will ultimately reduce spread of water born diseases.

 

The hardware components of the WASH intervention will be comprised of following activities:

1. Construction of 88 Twin pit Pour flush latrines (4x4 sft x 7ft high)
2. Installation of 50 washing points for hand washing and takhti washing.
3. 13 Hand Pumps on Boreholes (80 to 100 rft) with at least 20 rft water column will be installed in those school where no existing water source available in nearby or only have open wells which are not hygienically safe.
4. Piped water supply to 37schools.
5. Installation of 50 solid waste dumping and collection point.

 

The software components of the WASH intervention will focus on capacity building, BCC interventions and IPC regarding hygiene promotion and proper utilization of facilities installed under project agreement for adoption of safe hygiene practices by students in the target schools.

 

4. BENEFICIARIES/PARTICIPANTS:

Direct Beneficiaries:
50 girls & boys schools with a total student enrollment of 10182 (6361 girls & 3821 Boys), 143 teacher and about 350 PTAs and Caretake committees members  in 3 Tehsils Khaar, Utman Khel, & Barang of Bajuar Agency.

• Tehsil Khaar                   =  19 schools (3816 students including 2305 girls & 1511 boys)
• Tehsil Utman Khel           =  22 schools (3927 students including 3347 girls & 580 boys)
• Tehsil Barang                   =  09 schools (2439 students including 709 girls & 1730 girls)

Indirect Beneficiaries:

Approximately 60 households living in close vicinity to school WES facilities will additionally benefit indirectly through having access to safe drinking water supply where as latrines will be only used by teachers and students. Additionally students of targeted school will spread message of safe hygienic practices in their houses and families. This means a total No. of 3000 households and 21,000 people will be benefited indirectly.