Dowa Council Applauds Charity Water WASH Project by World Vision Malawi

The Dowa District Council has commended World Vision Malawi and other partners for their efforts in improving access to safe water and sanitation in the district.

According to the council, these initiatives are complementing government efforts to enhance water supply and hygiene services for local communities.

Speaking during a recent District WASH Coordinating meeting, Noel Chikumbu, the Principal Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Officer for Dowa District Council, emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of World Vision Malawi and our other partners in improving access to clean water. These projects are life-changing for our communities, and we encourage all partners to continue working together for the benefit of the people of Dowa,” said Chikumbu.

He also stressed the need for quarterly progress reports, noting that transparency and knowledge sharing strengthen collaboration and improve project implementation.

“By sharing progress updates regularly, we ensure accountability, learn from each other’s experiences, and improve the effectiveness of our interventions,” he added.

During the meeting, World Vision Malawi presented findings from a water point functionality assessment conducted in Chisepo, Traditional Authority (TA) Kayembe. The study was part of the Charity Water Project’s annual post-implementation plan, aimed at evaluating the sustainability of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions implemented between 2014 and 2016.

According to the assessment, 180 boreholes were constructed in Chisepo, benefiting 52,129 people. This included 159 newly built boreholes and 21 rehabilitated ones, significantly improving access to clean water.

Martha Pukutani, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at World Vision Malawi, shared insights from the assessment, which evaluated the functionality and effectiveness of water point committees.

“The results are encouraging. We found that 93% of the boreholes are still functional, with active WASH committees managing them. This demonstrates that community engagement and proper training play a crucial role in sustaining these projects,” said Pukutani.

However, she highlighted the need for continued follow-ups on non-functional and abandoned water points.

“To ensure long-term success, the government, through the District Water Development Office (DWDO), and WASH partners must regularly monitor water points and provide on-site support. Training new committee members is also essential for sustainability,” she recommended.

Additionally, District Coordination Team (DCT) members suggested linking water point committees with area mechanics to facilitate efficient borehole repairs.

“When water point committees are connected to trained mechanics, repairs can be done swiftly, reducing downtime and ensuring communities continue to access clean water,” one DCT member noted.