ngusishi water resource users association - strategic plan - 2011 - 2016

NGUSISHI WATER RESOURCE USERS ASSOCIATION

Conserving Water Resources For The Future

DRAFT STRATEGIC MILESTONES AND CHALLENGES2011 - 2016

NGUSISHI WATER RESOURCE USERS ASSOCIATIONConserving Water Resources For The Future

DRAFT STRATEGIC MILESTONES AND CHALLENGES 2011 - 2016

ExEcutivE Summary

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

• HH…………………………………………….............................HOUSEHOLDS• MOV………………………………………….........MEANS OF VERIFICATION • NWRUA………… ......NGUSISHI WATER RESOURCE USERS ASSOCIATION• NR………………………………………………......................NGUSISHI RIVER• OVI…………………………………..OBJECTIVELY VERIFIABLE INDICATORS• PCS…………………………………………….......................................PIECES• WRMA…………………… WATER RESOUCES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY• WDC…………………………………………..WRUA DEVELOPMENT CYCLE• WSTF……………………………………………WATER SERVICES TRUST FUND

taBLE OF cONtENtS

Executive Summary ......………………….………………………............. i

List of Abbreviations ……………………………………………………...... i

Table of Contents ……………………………………………………...... ii

Introduction ……………………………………………………..... 3

NNWRUA Vision ……………………………………………………..... 4

NNWRUA Mission ……………………………………………………..... 4

Organizational Structure ……………………………………….................. 4

Water use efficiency ………………………………………………............. 5

Springs and riparian land protection …………………..…………….......... 6

Community leadership and outreach strategy…………….................... 7

Metering at project level …………………………………………................ 8

Metering at household level ………………………………………………... 8

Communication and outreach strategy ................................................ 8

Financial sustainability .............................................................................. 9

Institutional Development Welfare ............................................................ 12

Monitoring and evaluation .................................................................... 13

Conclusions ..............................................................................14


1 2011 - 2016 STRATEGIES AND MILESTONES

iNtrODuctiON

Ngusishi Water Resources Users Association was formed in 1998 as a Self Help Group with interest in sharing the tiny Ngusishi River.

This was prompted by a series of conflicts between the upstream, midstream and downstream members who always clashed over the stream for domestic and livestock water. After a series of meetings and consultations a common agreement was formed to establish and register a Water Resource Users Association (WRUA).

With the help of WRMA, the Association was registered in 2002.The Association is composed of 16 Water projects and covers an area of 21km2.There is a general increase in the demand for water in the Association, due to population increase and economic growth, but the resource base is limited.

The Association is composed of 830 registered households and is estimated to have an overall population of over 7000 people and over 50,000 livestock.

Ngusishi river flows for 12km and joins Timau river. I t only discharges 68 l/sec which are shred among its 16 water projects to leave 30% to flow in the river. In dry seasons it only flows for a few kilometers and dries up. This compounds the problem of accessibility to water and illegal water abstractions occur in the stream.

The Association also faces problems of catchment degradation, underdevelopment of water infrastructure, poverty and HIV/AIDS. To alleviate the above problems, the Association is responsible for the formulation of workable management strategies for the management, development, conservation, protection and control of the water resources .This document is a tool that describes the framework for the advancement of the development projects already initiated in the Association and those to come.

Muthuri Spring

Kongoni Community

Olenaishu farm

WiumiririeCommunity

Kabeere sp. Batian sp.Ngusishi Market

Ngusishi river

timau town

timau river

lolomarik farm

Oldonyo farm

ChumviCommunity

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2011 - 2016 STRATEGIES AND MILESTONES

NWrua viSiON

The NWRUA Vision is to manage the leading WRUA in Kenya in ensuring accessibility to adequate clean, safe drinking water to all its members.

NWrua miSSiON

Is to ensure that The NWRUA Catchment resources are protected, improved and transparently, effectively and efficiently utilized by all its members to alleviate of poverty.

NWrua catcHmENt maP

Muthuri Spring

Kongoni Community

Olenaishu farm

WiumiririeCommunity

Kabeere sp. Batian sp.Ngusishi Market

Ngusishi river

timau town

timau river

lolomarik farm

Oldonyo farm

ChumviCommunity



NWua OrGaNiZatiON StructurENWRUA ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MANAGERS

SCOUTS

MONITORING ANDEVALUATIION COMMITEE

SUB - COMMITEEC.M.C

CENTRAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

FINANCE COMMITEESUB COMMITEE OF C.M.C

PROCUREMENT COMMITEESUB COMMITEE OF C.M.C

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WatEr uSE EFFiciENcy

It is the endeavor of the Association to achieve maximum utilization efficiency to all its members. This has prompted the Association to look into ways of ensuring the use of as little water as possible among its users. The association also aims at increasing small holder food production using the most appropriate technologies that allow other household activities to run simultaneously eventually reducing poverty and increasing household income.

To achieve this aim the Association has contacted various donors to assist in facilitating drip farming technology in the household level. Already seven drip farming pilot projects are established and communities have overwhelmingly demanded the drip kit. The kits were donated by Lydia Rouse and Laikipia Wildlife Forum. The Association aims at providing a total of 830 drip kits of quarter acre to ensure each household in the Association have fully equipped quarter acre land under drip irrigation through out the year. The following table shows the intended objects of this endeavor.

Objective activities/action

target areas

Ovi mOv responsibility

1.to minimize water wastage by eradicating furrow and overhead irrigation

To install 830 pcs of ¼ acre

drip plots at the 6 community projects by

2015

All censured

HH in the 6 community

projects

Maximum water use efficiency

and utilization

by projects

Meter readings, training reports, demo plots

Donors,

NWRUA

2.to eradicate food poverty at household level

Grow ¼ acre mixed food crops at 830 drip plots by

2015

All censured

HH in the 6 community

projects

Increased food

production and

income at household

level

Food production

records, HH surveys,

sales records

Donors,

NWRUA,

Members



SOiL aND WatEr cONSErvatiON

This is a critical section for the survival of the not only the riparian lands of the Ngusishi catchment areas, but the well being of all consumers of Ngusishi water and the their agricultural practices.

NWRUA has undertaken trainings in all the six projects on soil and conservation. This training was funded by the Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF). The Association envisages a community water project where all the natural resources are holistically managed for both posterity and the benefits of the future generations. The Association is introducing water conservation technologies at household levels. This idea has received its start from Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) with a funding to do six water pans as a pilot project. Each of the six community projects will have a learning ground on ground water harvesting and storage, an idea borrowed from commercial farms where 90 day storage dams are a common phenomenon. The Association also realizes that introduction of roof catchment will add a great deal of volume of water from rain .The Association intends to enlighten all its members on the importance of using gutters on their roofs to harvest rain water and store in PVC tanks for use during dry season. The table below shows envisaged objectives of this sector:

Objective activities/action

target areas

Ovi mOv responsibility

1.to eradicate shortages of water by promoting flood water harvesting and storage

To install 830 water pans of 100m3 in the six communities by 2015

830 households

Increased acreages of small holder irrigation,

Reduced pressure on Ngusishi river

Food production records

Meter readings, GPS record

Donors, NWRUA,

Household owners and Members

2.to promote rain-water roof harvesting

To install 830 gutters by 2015

830 households

Increased acreages of small holder irrigation,

Reduced pressure on NR

Improved health


Meter readings, GPS records

Hospital records

Donors, NWRUA,

HH owners and Members

3.to promote rain water storage

To install 830 t RWH PVC tanks to 830 households by 2015

830 households

Reduced distances to water, reduced pressure NR

Meter readings

Donors, NWRUA,HH owners

4.implement conservation farming at household level

Train all households on the Back-pack conservation farming concept

830 households

Reduced labour cost,

Increased food production

Labour records,


NWRUA, Projects, members

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SPriNGS aND riPariaN LaND PrOtEctiON.

The NWRUA Objective here is to promote appropriate and productive riparian land uses in collaboration with land owners. The aim is to ensure the land use activities do not encourage soil erosion, to plant the right tree species that provide long duration of shade to the river and identify specific livestock drinking points to avoid conflicts within the riparian lands. The situation currently is worse in some section of Ngusishi river and good in others. The Association has conducted riparian land uses training with assistance from WSTF and most members are aware of riparian lands. The Association has witnessed a protracted effort by land owners to thwart activities of water sharing sitting facts that springs emanate from their land. This is a contentious issue and it is the endeavor of the Association to see all spring areas are gazetted. This will enable conservation activities to protect spring eyes and enhance equitable resource sharing.It is the aim of the Association to manage the resource openly and cooperatively with land owners. If this is not possible then the government has to come in and declare all springs important catchment areas and facilitate protection of such areas for the common benefit for allThe Association has continuously planted trees in the riparian areas every rain season. What remains now is the actual pegging and delineation to mark the extent of cultivation. Also members’ sensitization on protection and conservation of the riparian sections is a crucial part of the success of the whole idea.The table below shows various activities projected in the riparian areas

Objective activities target areas

Ovi mOv responsibilities

1.to identify and peg all Nr riparian lands

To measure and peg 16 km of both sides of the river

All riparian lands, 16 km main furrow, 3 NR tributaries

Marks/pegs on both sides of furrows

Pegging report, Pictures,

Donors,

NWRUA, Land owners

2.to ensure all the 16 km Nr and its tributaries have fully protected riparian areas by 2015

To plant 500 indigenous tree seedlings on riparian lands every rain season in the 6 communities

Riparian land owners

Changes in tree cover on the furrow,

Changes in water volume downstream,

Reduced erosion

Clean flood water, reduced evaporation

Tree plantings and survivor reports,

Tree census report,

WRMA, Donors to fund seedlings buying,

NWRUA members and employees to ensure survivor and census

3.to build capacity on riparian land protection and rights

To conduct 2 trainings on riparian lands each year to 2016

Land owners

Increase access by NWUA to riparian, increased tree planting on riparian, reduced erosion,

Training reports

Donors,

NWRUA, WRMA



cOmmuNity LEaDErSHiP aND PrOJEct maNaGEmENt

The Association aims at achieving support for all its resolutions across all projects. In the last years the Association has learnt that not all resolutions minuted at meetings end up getting full support and backing from within projects. We identified some of the reasons to emanate from the fact that some project leaders may be biased on project decisions or may have personal interests or may be just skeptical about the whole idea or project but did not want to oppose it at the committee meetings. During the implementation level then the entire projects get jeopardized because there is minimal or no members supportFor any Resource User Association to function, whether at a project level, Community level or Association level, it is necessary that all parties involved are committed to make the system work. This is only possible if they are involved in the planning, design, construction and operation of the system and if they are convinced that it is in their own interest The Association aims at achieving project leaders’ support and cooperation in formation and implementation stages of the projects. We realize that by sensitizing our projects leaders we are raising the level of awareness about the importance of the projects being implemented. To win consensus on various projects issues and reach a compromise on the most contentious ones the Association aims at the following:



1.to achieve support of community leaders on projects

To conduct 2 community leaders training each year to 2015

All project elected leaders

Increased support to projects

Training reports, List of participants in projects activities

WRMA, Donors, NWRUA, Projects

2.to equip project managers with the necessary skills of community projects dynamics

To procure 2 trainings of the NWRUA managers on CBO management

NWRUA Managers

Effective/efficient running of the Community Water Projects

Certificates of training attendance

Follow-ups on trainings

NWRUA, Donors

Procure 2 training on Projects Management

NWRUA Managers

Increased delivery of projects results

Projects reports, certificate of participation

NWRUA, Donors

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mEtEriNG SyStEm at PrOJEct LEvEL

The Association through the assistance of friends and other stakeholders has managed to install master meters to all the sixteen projects including the three common intakes. This achievement has enabled the association to ensure every project allocation is well monitored throughout and recorded. The master meters are read and cleaned on a daily bases by the NWRUA scouts. The master meters are purchased by the Association on behalf of the projects. This has enabled the proper monitoring of springs production and data compilation on a daily bases. There is need to initiate data collection and monitoring of ground water in the catchment by 2012 in order to enable effective and sustainable management of water resources as well as for planning.

mEtEriNG SyStEm at HOuSEHOLD LEvEL

In order to ensure that water use efficiency is reflected to the household level, the Association is encouraging all its members install meters at their households. This way the Association aims to achieve high efficiency of utilization of the water resource and enhance user pay principle.

cOmmuNicatiON aND OutrEacH StratEGy

This is a critical area of success the Association has achieved in a period of one year .The Association aims at achieving concrete foundation of communication and information sharing with other WRUAs, Governments, Authorities, supporters, donors and all communities within and without Ngusishi Catchment Area.

To achieve this aim the Association has managed to explore various ways and means of communication and has domesticated the use of modern technology like electronic media

The Association e-mail address [email protected] has made easier the way and style communication with both its members and friends and supporters. The Association has also opened e-mail addresses fro all its 16 members. The Association’s website www.ngusishi.com has made the Association to place strategic information about the current and future activities. The table below shows some of the stages of communication and information sharing:





1.To establish a NWRUA communication mechanism

1.To provide information to be posted into NWRUA website

All NWRUA projects

NWRUA web pages, website, Barazas,e-mails,

Pictures,proposals, minutes

NWRUA

2. To prepare and disseminate Newsletters and pamphlets regularly.

Projects progresses, AGM , meetings, conservation, spring productions,

Minutes, reports,

Newsletters and pamphlets

NWRUA

Managers

3.Organize functions to reward best performing projects in various aspects

furrow cleaning, tree planting, illegal abstractions, assistances, repairs,

Number of certificates given, presents given

Reports, receipts, minutes

NWRUA

Managers

2.to establish a public relations desk

1.Establish a notice board, and pigeon holes to post all relevant information and communication for members to scrutinize

Audited accounts, project balances, meeting notices, meter readings, meeting minutes, allocations

Project reports

Feedback from members

Receipts from payments,

NWRUA

Managers

2.To produce pamphlets twice a year

Feedback from members

Receipts from members and public

NWRUA

managers

FiNaNciaL SuStaiNaBiLityNWRUA realizes that it cannot survive to meet its long term objectives without being financially sustainable. Therefore the members have been made aware through various sensitizations that it is their responsibility to run the Association. Therefore the issue of user-pay arrangement was generally accepted and the members are now well paying there water use on monthly bases. Members have also agreed on an annual fee known as membership fee and calculated as per the amount of water allocated to each project. This will include agreeable fees raised from other water resources in the Catchment area

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The NWRUA has a good relationship with the nearby commercial farms which have contributed enormously towards the establishment and sustainability of the NWRUA. It is therefore imperative for NWRUA to develop a framework for the NWRUA-Commercial farms partnership which will guide the engagement of the commercial farms. A clear module showing levels of investment plan in the NWRUA catchment will be good basis for the framework.

NWRUA will engage in diversification of activities for income generation like establishment of tree nurseries, fish pods and horcultural farming

The NWRUA will also support development of proposals by providing technical advice and capacity to its managers. The table below shows the strategies to be engaged in this regard:



to ensure NWrua collects adequate revenue to cover its operational cost

1.To build capacity on Proposal writing to NWRUA managers by 2012

NWRUA Managers

Trainings attendance,

Short courses

Certificates issued

NWRUA/commercial farms

2.To build capacity on the concept of User-Pay for water resources to Project members by 2012

Projects Members

Trainings attendance

Attendance lists

NWRUA

3.Establishment of income generating projects to the NWRUA

Tree nurseries,

Income from sale of seedlings

Receipts NWRUA,

Projects officials

4.Install two fish pods at the down and upstream projects by 2015

Upstream and downstream communities

Income from sale of fish

Receipts NWRUA

project officials



iNStitutiONaL DEvELOPmENt, WELFarE aND SuPPOrt

NWRUA SMALL HOLDER FARMERS ASSOCIATION.

NWRUA currently serves a collective population of over 10,000 people. These are the members of the registered 830 households. There is a big potential of the 830 families coming together and pulling their agricultural produce to and forming a single marketing organization. This could be registered as NWRUA small holder farmers’ organization covering all the six community projects to enable marketing and price negotiation for produce as a common entity. This way the Association will have empowered its members to effectively fight poverty and also diversified its financial sources.

NWrua OFFicE BLOcK

Currently the Association’s offices are situated in rental blocks. This not only costs the Association huge amounts of money, but exposes its assets to threats of damages or loss. It is the endeavor of the Association to establish its own office block in a strategically viable area of Timau Township. This will be accessible position by road, and with proximity to basic facilities like water and electricity.



to ensure economic sustainability of NWrua community projects

to establish a common market for NWrua community Projects Produce

Projects,HH A registered produce marketing organization with all required documents

Certificate of registration

PCN,Reciepts

Main Committee

to ensure NWrua assets are well protected and accessibility

1.To purchase a 1 acre space for office block within Timau Township by 2013

Land office, willing sellers,

A registered 1 acre piece of land near basic amenities

Title deed Executive committee

2. To construct an office block by 2016

Contractors, planners

A fully furnished NWRUA office block

Addresses, signboards

Executive committee and Managers

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mONitOriNG aND EvaLuatiON

There is need for an evaluation tool which will enable understanding of the NWRUA processes and efficient and equitable planning and management of the NWRUA projects.

The comprehensive tool will ensure that all projects being implemented are compliant to the set objectives both at implementation stage, mid- term and end- term evaluation complete with means of verification.Already the Association has established a system where all the three springs’ production are well monitored using master meters. Proper recording has enabled the Association to monitor daily production and consumption by the sixteen members and where need be corrective actions are taken immediately. Data on ground water is paramount for proper evaluation of the catchment potential. This will start to be well monitored after agreement between the bore owners and NWRUATo enable effective monitoring of the river establishment of V-notches and RGSs will come in hardy for fulltime information gathering on the river flow.

The Association wishes to establish a data bank or a resource centre where information detailing the major environmental, development and catchment changes over time are captured and stored for comparison and future use. This includes use of satellite maps, digital pictures, and aerial photographs.



to establish ground water monitoring system by 2012

Publish database for all the bore holes in catchment

Boreholes ,project

Data on borehole production

Meter records

GPS coordinates

Projects,NWRUA



cONcLuSiONS

We hope that the implementation of this Strategy will help the Association achieve further success and continue being a model in the country. We also expect it to be an effective tool for development and to fight poverty in Catchment


P.O.Box 33 - 10406 Timau, KenyaTel: +254 722 886 45, +254 724 597 472

E-mail: [email protected]: www.ngusishi.com

ngusishi water resource users association - strategic plan - 2011 - 2016

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