Institutional capacity building in rural WatSan sector in Afghanistan

The gravity of the problem of rural water supply and sanitation services low coverage (water supply 18% and sanitation 8%) and high mortality rate of children under 5 years (25%, half of which is caused by waterborne diseases and poor sanitation practice) has been recognized by the government of Afghanistan in its reconstruction Program. Accordingly to increase the coverage up to 50% by end of 2008, the construction of 100 000 water points and 1000 000 sanitary latrines and conducting 2.5 million household visits were approved. The Department of Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion RuWatSan in the structure of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, MRRD, is engaged in a nation wide program of support for the development of basic water supply and sanitation services through the Provincial Rural Rehabilitation and Development departments, PRRDs, NGOs, and the private sector. To fulfil this huge task it is imperative to have committed and capable partners from community level down to the government staff. This will happen through the capacity building program. This paper highlights the capacity building exercise so far covered in this regard by this department; pinpoint the ups and downs on the way and possible action in the future.