IWC research partnership enters “action” phase in Solomon Islands
By Diana Gonzalez Botero and Regina Souter,
Baseline data collection for Phase 2 of the Pacific Water Community Management Plus (PaCWaM+) projectis now underway in Fiji and Solomon Islands. Researchers from The University of the South Pacific (USP) and Solomon Islands National University (SINU) have recently visited 15communities in Ra Province (Fiji) and Guadalcanal Province (Solomon Islands). The data collection activities are part of a baseline assessment for monitoring and evaluation, prior to the implementation of community-based water management approaches by government and NGO partners. All baseline data collection is expected to be completed by April 2021.
The baseline assessments consist of a WASH household survey to assess the WASH situation and householders’ attitudes and practices, infrastructure inspections of the water system, sanitary risk assessments and water quality testing, as well as key informant interviews.
SINU researchers conducting drinking water quality testing in a rural village in Solomon Islands.
The baseline assessments consist of a WASH household survey to assess the WASH situation and householders’ attitudes and practices, infrastructure inspections of the water system, sanitary risk assessments and water quality testing, as well as key informant interviews. The data collection activities will be conducted again in communities after the implementation of different community engagement approaches, as part of a ‘before and after’ assessment to determine the impacts of different interventions for improving community-based water management. Another component of data collection involves process monitoring through interviews with implementers from government and NGO partners, to identify strengths and weaknesses, to inform implementation effectiveness and, where appropriate, revision of the approaches.
SINU researchers conducting key informant interviews in a rural village in Solomon Islands.
The PaCWaM+ project is managed by the International WaterCentre at Griffith University and delivered with our research partners Solomon Islands National University and The University of the South Pacific. The research is funded by the Australian Aid’s Water for Women Fund, and is supported by Plan International Australia, Live & Learn Solomon Islands, Habitat for Humanity Australia and Fiji.
USP researchers conducting drinking water quality testing in a rural village in Fiji.
For more information, visit our website: http://watercentre.org/research/research-impacts/pcwm/
NOTE: Top Banner Photo Credit: LA Times.