STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNE COUNCIL’S COMMITMENT TOWARD RURAL SANITATION AND HYGIENE IMPROVEMENT

            The main objectives of the project is to improve access to and sustain use of sanitation facilities and improved hygiene practices in rural areas, especially for poor and socially excluded men, women and children through capacity building to Commune Women Children Focal Point (CWCFPs) and Second Deputy Commune Chief (SDCCs) to become advocate on issue related to hygiene and sanitation with commune councils and the community. Other objective is to enhance the capacity of the PRD, DRD, PLAU, and DFT, to have the competent to organize and facilitate a forum as well as to monitor the performance of SDCCs and CWCFPs in the promotion of hygiene and sanitation.  WfP works in cooperation with the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

TARGET GROUP/AREAS

- 18 PRD,DoRD, PLAU and DFT 
- CWCFP’s, 2nd deputy chief, villagers
- 2 provinces (Prey Veng and Svay Rieng)

DONORS (UNICEF/DFID)

ACTIVITIES

The Ministry of Rural Development decided to pilot the project in Two provinces, Prey Veng and Svay Reang, by selecting 71 communes within 6 district to work on, with close working coordination with PRD,DoRD, PLAU and DFT.

        WfP provided TOT to 31 participants who are PRD,DoRD, PLAU and DFT to work in the two pilot provinces, 18 communes, to promote hygiene and sanitation. From lesson learnt in the two provinces, MRD decided to expand the services to cover 8 provinces (Prey Veng, Svay Reang, Takeo, Kampot, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng, and Ottar Meanchey). The strategy used to have full coverage in those provinces is to use the trainers from the two pilot provinces as master trainers. They will train PRD,DoRD, PLAU and DFT in the new provinces and Second Deputy Chief of Commune  (SDCC)& CWCFPs on how to organize public forum to villagers on hygiene and sanitation.
            A total of 18 Master Trainers participated in a refresher course organized by WfP. They were selected from the 31 participants from Prey Veng and Svay Reang province.  After the training, they formed a group consisted of 3 persons in each group, and organize training in the 8 provinces to PRD, DoRD, PLAU, DFT, SC and CWCFPs on how to organize public forum to villagers regards to hygiene practices – Stop open defecation, Hand washing with soap, and Drinking safe water and safe storage at home

WfP monitor 3 provinces, Kampot, Kampong Speu, and Kampong Thom, with participation from 34 peoples: 5 MRD, 3 PRD’s deputy, 3 DoRD, 3 PLAU, 3 DFT, 1 commune chief, 3 first deputy, 5 second deputy, 6 FCC, 2 CWCFPs. After the training, the evaluation score showed 17 with very good, 10 good, and 7 fair. After the training, they practice organize public forum, with technical assistance from WfP. WfP monitor the performance of PRD, DoRD, PLAU, DFT, SC & FCC & CWCFP in 3 communes, attended by 318 villagers (195F & 123M).

To assist other provinces in their performance, WfP monitor 9 communes within 8 provinces, which attended by 1,455 villagers (727F & 728M).  Based on active participation from villagers, and through answering questions and hand raised, it seems that at least 70% of the people understood about hygiene and sanitation.  It was recorded:

            HAND RAISED                             NAME REGISTERED ON THE LIST
            -  Build Toilet 77.5%                              -  Build Toilet   54%
            -  Use Safe water 82.5%                      -  Use Safe water 36%
            -  Wash hands with soap 80.33%       -  Wash hands with soap 36%