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Three
decades of experience in a wide range of sectors throughout the Asia-Pacific
region and beyond have taught SMEC that development solutions and strategies
cannot be imposed on communities by national agencies or external advisors. In
order to be effective, development strategies and programs must reflect the
priorities and values of the communities they serve. Over the years SMEC has
developed an array of techniques for assessing community expectations and
opinions and promoting community involvement in program design and management.
These techniques include :
This
process of project development in consultation with affected communities is
inevitably both painstaking and time consuming, especially in cultures which
discourage frank expressions of opinion or are suspicious of outsiders.
Nevertheless, by operating through
local groups and making information available from the earliest stages of
project appraisal SMEC has developed a capacity to identify community concerns
and design programs which take full account of local needs and expectations. Recent
projects include: Eua
Water Supply Redevelopment, Kingdom of Tonga 1999 Client:
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade The project involves
evaluating the feasibility and development of a project design for the
rehabilitation of the water supply on the island of ‘Eua for funding by the
New Zealand Government. A key element of the design was the participatory
demand-based approach adopted by the team and the institutional structures
developed for local management along sustainable lines. The resulting project
design has been seen as a benchmark design by the NZODA. Riparian
Flow and Community Water Supply Evaluation, Nepal Client:
West Seti Hydroelectric As part of a $1.9 Billion
Hydroelectric Project. SMEC carried out a comprehensive community consultation
process to evaluate the dependency of local communities on the river and the
impact associated with the development. This also included evaluation of the
gravels and hydrology to determine the impact of reduced flows in the river.
Recommendations included mitigating measures and long term impacts on
communities. Also included an evaluation of groundwater potential for community
water supply development and the magnitude of riparian flow releases to enable
communities to maintain their traditional practices. KwaZulu
Natal Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project Client:
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry / AusAID Funded SMEC provided a team of
experts evaluating and redeveloping the delivery of community water and
sanitation services to the rural communities of KwaZulu Natal. Includes IEC, AP,
Asset Management and institutional strengthening, training of management and
coordination of inputs from government and NGOs. Hikkaduwa
Sewage and Coastal Waste Management Project Client:
AusAID SMEC provided the design
team for this coastal environmental project involving the local government, the
community, NGOs and the tourism development groups of this highly developed
tourist location in Sri Lanka. The Project design looks at integrating all
sectors in a combined program to handle the innovative management of sewage and
solid waste effluent without destroying the coral reefs and coastal assets. This
is also within the institutional framework and legislative reform of the
National Government, which focuses on devolution of responsibility to local, and
community government North
Mindanao Water Supply and Sanitation Project Client:
AusAID SMEC provided the design
team for this large community-based project (Aus$40 Million) The design focuses
on development of procedures which are community managed and based on demand and
incentive for real cost recovery in water supply and sanitation to rural areas.
The Government devolution policies are incorporated into a benchmark project for
community self-funding of schemes and support to the networking of community
health workers at the lowest level of community organisation. In addition the
project looks to integrate the roles of the various levels of Municipal,
Provincial, Regional and National Government into a cohesive planning and
management structure. Rural
Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Solomon Islands Client:
Australian Agency for International Development / SIG Ministry of Health SMEC
staff were involved in the position of Government Advisor, Trainer, Planner,
Supervisor, Project Director. Since July 1991 until June 1995 was responsible
for the design of a program and the supervision of the project for Phases, 2 and
3. Working with the Environmental Health Department, Rural Water Supply and
Sanitation Division, to develop a long term, sustainable program and increase
the skills and profile of the division. The Division is responsible for
delivering water supply and sanitation to the rural communities, clinics and
schools of Solomon Islands. This includes some 800 islands spread over 1 200km
of the Pacific. The project has evolved over time and is successfully
integrating NGO's, Government, Community and various aid donors in a cohesive
program. Comprehensive IEC programs
and KAP surveys were completed and a three tier training program has been
adopted by the Government. Over 12 donors and agencies are cooperating on this
integrated project. Kandrian-Gloucester
Integrated Rural Development Project, Papua New Guinea Client:
Australian International Development Assistance Bureau /Government of PNG
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