Determinants of Sustainability of Rural Water Supply Projects in Rwanda: Case of World Vision Supported Rural Water Supply Projects Conducted in the Western Province of Rwanda, Nyamasheke District, For Universal Service Coverage Program [2018-2022]

Abstract

This research study was conducted to establish the determinants of Sustainability of implemented rural water projects in Universal Service coverage Program conducted by World Vision that had a specific objective of reaching 1million people with access to clean water in Rwanda by 2022. Hence, the study considered eleven water supply projects implemented in Nyamasheke district, in the western province of Rwanda, where a total budget of 5,8 million of US dollars was spent, in order to have now a total length of 562 km pipeline installed, with 418 water points and other related infrastructures. The sustainability was considered as dependent variable and the sector policy, post implementation impact evaluation practice, Choice of Technology, the Role of the Private Operator, and water users committee as independent variables. The study used a descriptive research design method and adopted and a stratified sampling method to have related data in this work. The study collected qualitative and quantitative information from 83 respondents, and analyzed them using SPSS model, where the obtained R2 was equivalent to 0.838, which indicates the strong correlation between measured variables. The results found in this work were then tested successfully for Validity. As a result, it was found that the major determinant of sustainability of those rural water supply projects is the contribution of Water users committees, which has a coefficient of 63.5%. The second factor being the Private operator’s role affecting the sustainability at 51.3%, then the third factor being the choice of Technology with 18.7% significance. Other factors like sector policy (3.4%), the Post implementation impact evaluation (4.1%) also contributed at some extent to the sustainability of projects under study. However, the results confirmed that, the most widespread community management model in our case failed to deliver the levels of sustainability that were initially anticipated. The privatization of water operations within a district has been proved to have an extended level of challenges with it, related to total quality management, to budget for operations and Maintenance, to technology in use, to Staffing, and then those related to types of agreements signed. The study recommended that more objective criteria of selection is essential, Close monitoring, regular trainings, increased incentives and other motivations tips and so as to boost members’ skills, ownership and accountability, which would lead thereafter to the sustainability of water utilities in the long run.