1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Management performance of a village water supply : a case study in Vientiane Province, Lao PDR

AuthorManiseng Douangnoulack
Call NumberAIT RSPR no.RD-07-03
Subject(s)Water-supply--Management--Laos--Vientiane
NoteA research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractThe research studied the management performance of a village water supply (VWS) in Danhsavanh village, Keo-Oudom district, Vientiane province of Lao PDR. The objectives of this research were to describe institutional framework and arrangements, examine management performance of the village water supply committee (VWSC), obtain feedback of water users on the village water supply and suggest recommendations to strengthen the management performance of the VWSC. The research was conducted in both water user groups from poor and non-poor households. Main management performance of the VWSC included the organization of training programs, meetings with the water user groups, mobilization of resources, ensuring water quality and adequacy, providing water system protection, performing regular O&M and cooperating with other agencies. In response to the management performance of the VWSC, the water users participated in the meetings to discuss about the water supply issues and attended technical training on the use of the water supply system. People participated in mobilization of resources, technical training and O&M. Regarding the satisfaction of the water users on the management performances of the VWSC, they were not still so clear about the objectives and activities provided in the scheme. They were satisfied with the ways the meetings were organized as well as the water quality but they were still skeptical on technical training provided, O&M, mobilization of resources and financial and technical support that were managed by the committee. They were dissatisfied with the water adequacy particularly during the dry season when water availability is limited even for household consumption. Main problems of the VWS were identified by the water users including insufficient water, poor O&M and water quality, lack of financial support and limited technical knowledge. The water users had constraints on their ability to pay for water fee among poor households and lack of time to participate in meetings and training programs organized by the scheme. The VWS generated several types of benefits to rural households as water users for domestic consumption, the water adequacy was not sufficient on agricultural purposes. The VWSC had limited capacity in O&M, low capacity in mobilizing technical and financial support and poor coordination with other agencies. Among the water users, their main problems were lacked of time to participate in the meetings and training programs. The users from the poor households had the problem in the payment of the water fee due to their low income. A set of recommendations were suggested to both the VWSC and the water users. For the VWSC, the suggestions were given to improve their management performance including provision of technical training program to both VWSC and water users, flexible payment of water fee applied for water users from poor households, water adequacy, water quality, improving water distribution to water users and enhancing technical financial support and coordination from other agency. For the water users, two main suggestions were given to them to strengthen their participation in meetings and training programs organized by the VWSC and to improve the protection of water source more effectively.
Year2007
TypeResearch Study Project Report (RSPR)
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentDepartment of Development and Sustainability (DDS)
Academic Program/FoSRural Development, Gender and Resources (RD)
Chairperson(s)Soparth Pongquan
Examination Committee(s)Ahmad, Mokbul Moorshed ;Kusakabe, Kyoko
Scholarship Donor(s)Sweden (Sida)
DegreeResearch Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007


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