Challenges of community managed water projects in Tanzania: the case of Mbuo water project, Mtwara district

Nowadays community management is a profound model for implementing rural water supply systems in Tanzania. The model makes community responsible for the operation of water services after the implementing agency has left. Often times communities struggle with planning, developing and maintaining their water supply services due to various challenges. The aim of this study was to examine challenges and suggest ways to overcome them. The study was conducted in Mbuo water project, Mtwara district. That was possible through literature review and interviews with users and the management team. The field data collection covered 240 households from the four ward of Mtwara district. The current estimate households of four wards is about 3461, meaning that the sample size is about 7% of the household population of the area benefiting from this water project. It is concluded that, to minimize challenges, local communities should be highly involved in all aspects of water scheme development. Creation of Village Water Committees with powers of mobilizing local people, planning, and financing is seen to be one of the most promising ways of increasing community participation and sustaining water projects. In addition, operation and maintenance should be put in place with available funds for routine maintenance as well as project cost recovery. The study recommends for improvement on private sector participation (PPP), multiple uses of water to address food and nutritional security, introduce incentives to volunteers, install bulk meters, improve financial management, enhance economic viability of the water tariff and connect more private customers to subside for the poor including vulnerable people in the project area.