What’s in for the women and girls? I must define and explicitly state the benefits to women and girls. That's the difference between success and failure of this project.
I can readily see the benefits to me, the health center, my organization and the sponsoring organization. For me, the main things are accountable for the sale of water. And I think sustainability will follow. The water system was donated to the health center and community. There is nothing to pay back. Therefore, it's a dream come true for an entrepreneur. You were given the goose that lays the golden egg everyday. All they have to do is keep the goose healthy. But the women and girls in the community will not understand. And if they do, still it’s what is in it for them.
First, I think we, the water management, must give them something tangible everyday. For starters, a free allowance of water each and every day should be given to the women. Also, special allowances can be given to the sick, elderly, and destitute community members.
Second, I think a loyalty program should be devised for women. Grocery stores have coupons to save money on grocery items. In addition, the Kroger grocery store gives you 10 cents off per gallon of gasoline, up to 30 gallons, every time you spend $100 on groceries.
Third, since each water system is connected to a community health center, points can be accumulated on a woman’s tag based upon accumulated water purchases. Therefore, the health center could allow the points to be redeemed for medicine or a health care visit. And the health center can approve special allowances for patients and their families under care for water-borne diseases and those with weakened immunities. Also, the health center can give water purchasers a privileged status in the health center ranging priority waiting to extended credit on some services offered.
Finally, annually the Water User Committee should talk to the women and decide what to do with any excess profit from water sales after payment of all expenses including future maintenance allowance and savings for plan expansion. Water services should be expanded in the community until the community achieves “basic water services”. That is, the overwhelming majority of households in the community has a water source within 30 minutes roundtrip including collection of their household.
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