Water & Sanitation Systems: More Funds & Improved Organization [Archives:1998/31/Business & Economy]

Ahlam Al-Mutawakil,
Yemen Times
A workshop on ‘Institutional Strengthening of Five National Water and Sanitation Authority (NASA) Branches’ was held during 26-28 July in Sanaa. It was jointly organized by the Ministry of Electricity and Water and the Technical Secretariat for Water and Sanitation Sector Reform (TSWSSR).
The opening session was attended by the NWSA Deputy General Director, Mr. Mohammed Abu Taleb; the TSWSSR Director, Mr. Anwar Al-Sahouli; the Dutch Ambassador to Yemen, Mr. Arend Meerburg; representatives of the German embassy and the World Bank in Sanaa and several parties involved with the sector.
In carrying out its activities, NWSA faces tremendous problems. They include extreme scarcity of water resources in some parts of Yemen, depletion of water reservoirs as a result of uncontrolled abstraction and ever increasing demand, highly centralized and less than fully effective institutional arrangement and inadequate cost recovery.
“Dutch support, both financial and technical, will continue to ensure the satisfactory progress of water and sanitation projects,” affirmed Mr. Meerburg.
On his part, Mr. Ahmed Idris, General Director of NWSA branches, said the government is keen on developing and improving the sanitation system’s infrastructure, in cooperation with donor countries and organizations. “There is an urgent need for renovating the sewerage infrastructure,” he warned. “The Dutch have set aside 12 million guilders for short and long-term projects, in addition to other sums of money for projects in Hodeida. There is also about 9.5 million guilders to buy spare part,” disclosed Mr. Idris.
Mr. Jack van Hoorn, consultant and team leader told Yemen Times, “We are currently studying the infrastructure in five NWSA branches – Dhamar, Ibb, Ataq, Hodeidah and Wadi Hadhramaut (Seioun and neighboring villages). These projects are funded by the Dutch government, and implemented under the supervision of NWSA. We believe branches should have more authority.”
Mr. van Hoorn went further by pointing out that the Radaa experimental project (1988-1997), cost $35 million and is a total success, serving 40,000 people. Building on this success, the Dutch expert indicated the benefits of surveying other water and sewerage systems to figure out their basic need and the necessary improvements. “If improvement means raising water tariffs, then so be it. People will be willing to pay more if they feel there positive change and improvement in the service,” he stressed.
More than $11 million is needed to renovate or reconstruct the water and sanitation systems in these five branches. Several donor countries and organizations were approached to ascertain their willingness to support these projects.
Mr. Abdulsalam Al-Hakimi, the director of the NWSA branch in Radaa submitted a paper on the relationship between the consumers and service providers. This paper and several others submitted at the workshop stressed on the need to strengthen the establishmentarian structures., human-resource development, budget control and other important issues.

The discussion groups came up with the following conclusions and recommendations:
1- Implement water and sanitation system improvements in the 5 branches;
2- Conduct the necessary surveys and studies urgently;
3- Securing the needed finances, based on the survey results;
4- Computerize accounts and the issuing of monthly bills;
5- Re-structure the workforce at the 5 branches and laying off redundant employees;
6- Impose new tariffs in coordination with relevant authorities;
7- Allocate the necessary funds for operating the projects;
8- Review the wage levels with a view to increasing salaries.

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