For a project to be sustainable, that is, to be able to maintain itself and produce its results, even beyond the intervention period, it is important to listen, share and make local authorities and communities an active part of the entire process . This is an element to which AMU has always dedicated great space, together with that of training local counterparts. For this reason, CASOBU, local partner in the project Water, source of life and development in Ruyigi in Burundi, organized a working session that saw the participation of various stakeholders: the managers of the Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines (MINHEM), those of the Rural Agency for Water and Sanitation of Burundi (AHAMR), administrative officials at provincial level and of the municipalities of Butezi and Ruyigi, as well as the base administrators, the area heads, the hill heads, the staff of the organizations CASOBU, SOPRAD and MUNASA involved in the implementation of the interventions.
” We invited stakeholders to inform them and discuss together the different aspects of the implementation of the interventions with the aim of involving them and also ensuring future sustainability”, Jérôme Nibaruta, project coordinator, told us.
The workshop allowed us to present all the characteristics of the project, its activities (both those implemented and those to come) and triggered an important discussion, also full of suggestions for the future. This day together was highly appreciated by the various actors, especially regarding the explanations and transparency of CASOBU.
Everyone is aware that knowing more about the interventions and benefits that the project will bring will also allow them to better involve their communities of reference.
In his speech , TABU Emmerencienne, Governor of Ruyigi Province, invited the administrators present to sensitize the beneficiaries to take responsibility for the project and actively participate in its implementation.
“We warmly thank CASOBU for organizing this workshop. We also appreciate the partnership protocol for future sustainability and transparency from CASOBU in the execution of the project. I am confident that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, this project will be successful.” – NIZIGIYIMANA Jeanne, Director General of Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation.
Initiatives like these also serve to reactivate reciprocity between all the protagonists: AMU considers the institutions and members of the different communities not as simple beneficiaries, but as true partners, active parties who have the opportunity to participate in the success of the project, each offering their own contribution.
“In this workshop I had the opportunity to learn about the project in depth. Once again I felt called to mobilize the community to actively participate in the project” NZEYIMANA Jean, chief of Nyaunazi hill, one of the hills where the drinking water will arrive.
