SOMAP O&M mechanism

For the entire O&M system to be effective, the following parameters should be considered:

1) Community contribution and management

2) Repair work mechanism

3) Tool kit management

4) Supply chain of spare parts

5) Monitoring mechanism

By introducing these five parameters, water access rate will be improved with less downtime and more operational time.

Key activities of the O&M Model

I. Community Sensitisation

The cost of O&M is to be borne 100% by the community. This is one of the adopted basic policy principles of O&M management. Fostering the sense of ownership of the hand pumps through sensitisation of the community members is a vital part for the model’s sustainability and success.

The community contributions include:

Collecting repair fee for the APMs, purchasing spare parts, keeping the hand pump area organised, setting up of V-WASHE, collecting facility usage fees, etc.

II. Supply Chain of Spare Parts

Establishment of the supply chain of spare parts is another essential part of sustainable O&M. In the first year, the supply chain management manual and procurement guideline will be revised and formulated. From the second year, the establishment of the supply chain in accordance to the guidelines will be carried out in each district.

III. Capacity Building

Capacity development at national, provincial, district and sub-district level involving stakeholder is another essential part of the model. Necessary trainings and monitoring at each level will be provided in the project

What is SOMAP?

SOMAP is the model for implementing RWS that aims to help people in rural area to have better and reliable access to safe drinking water.

It supports the O&M (Operation and Maintenance) component of the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NRWSSP).

SOMAP1 (2005-2007)

SOMAP initially started in 2005 as SOMAP1 (Sustainable Operation and Maintenance Project for Rural Water Supply) to establish O&M system.

The model was designed to help people in target rural areas with a support of the Local Authority and other actors to use the constructed hand pumps for a longer time by maintaining them better and having means to repair them when broken.

The pilot project was conducted in Monze (Southern Province) and Mumbwa (Central Province) districts.

The model works at the district level to deal with the following issues:

Ø Availability of spare parts for the facility repair

- Establishment of a supply chain of spare parts

Ø Clear idea of who is responsible for what for the hand pump maintenance

- Introduction of “O&M mechanism” that states clear roles of each stakeholder

Ø Having an adequate number of well-trained APMs (Area Pump Menders) in each area

- Capacity building of each stakeholders including APMs

SOMAP1 was a big success in reducing the downtime of the hand pumps.

SOMAP2 (2007-2010)

SOMAP2 was implemented to refine the O&M model and apply it to 4 districts in Central Province.

As a result of SOMAP 2, the operation rate of hand pumps in the targeted area was increased.

SOMAP 3 (2011-2015)

“The Support in National Roll-Out of Sustainable Operation and Maintenance Programme” (SOMAP3) aims to further apply the O&M model now to the rural areas of the whole country in coordination with the PSTs (Programme Support Teams).

Project Objective and Output:

The main objective of SOMAP 3 is to ensure that hand pumps in rural area are in operation for a longer time.

Outputs are as follows:

i) Operational skills and knowledge of MLGHEEEP/DHID on O&M component is strengthened.

ii) SOMAP O&M model is implemented through coordination with PSTs in 54 districts in 10 provinces in the country.

iii) SOMAP O&M model is implemented in 4 districts (Mansa, Milenge, Mwense and Nchelenge) in Luapula Province through coordination with PST and project direct support.