Outline of the Project

Project Name

The Project on Rural Water Supply Technology in the Central Dry Zone

PDM

(PDF/100KB)

Country

The Union of Myanmar(hereinafter referred to as Myanmar)

Project Site

Nyaung-U Township and Kyaukpadaung Township of Mandalay Division, and Chauk Township of Magway Division.

The target area in the Project is the Central Dry Zone; however, the concrete target villages were selected within Nyaung-U Township and Kyaukpadaung Township of Mandalay Division, and Chauk Township of Magway Division through the discussion with DDA.

Term of Cooperation

From 10 Nov 2006, To 31 Oct 2009

Implementing Organization

Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs.
DDA: Department of Development Affairs, Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and

View of fetching water

Pond with lowered water level

Project Background

Myanmar regained independence from the United Kingdom in 1948 and is located in the western part of Eastern Asia <total land area: 677,000 square kilometer, total population: 56.4 million(as of 2005 - 06 FY), nation's GDP per capita: approximately 167202 Kyats(- 166 US dollars)(as of 2004 - 05 FY)(according to year book, 2005)>.

The Central Dry Zone of the Union of Myanmar is a subtropical semi-arid zone with 27% of the total population with 11.5 million, and its population density is about three times more than the nation's average population density. Annual rainfall in the zone is 400 - 880 millimeter and most of the rain is concentrated from May to October. As the residents in the zone mainly depend on the reservoirs where the rain stays within the village, when the water level of the reservoirs falls in the middle of the dry season, they have to go to wells several kilometers away and buy water.

Many of the wells constructed by international organizations have already been broken because planning techniques and construction techniques in those days were insufficient. Furthermore, since those projects did not aim at transferring techniques, proper engineers were not raised or trained.

DDA staff checking damaged well

The Government of Myanmar has planned and implemented various rural water supply projects, and one of the efforts is "A ten Year Project for Rural Water Supply by Development Committees of Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Divisions(From 2000 - 2001 to 2009 - 2010)". However, the implementing organization, the Department of Development Affairs(DDA), Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, have technical problems such as an insufficient technical capacity of the DDA and many defects with wells constructed by the DDA, which break down right after the construction or become out of use due to muddy water.

Under these circumstances, the Government of Japan was requested to provide technical cooperation for developing management capacity and training technical engineers of the DDA.

Purpose

Overall Goal :The number of villages in the Central Dry Zone with access to safe drinking water is increased.

Project Purpose :Capacity for construction, repair and maintenance of water supply facilities in the Central Dry Zone is strengthened.

Outputs

1. Advanced technology for construction of rural water supply facilities is transferred.
2. Advanced technology for rehabilitation of deep tube wells is transferred.
3. Advanced techniques for maintenance / monitoring of water supply are transferred.

Project Activities

1. Advanced technology for construction of rural water supply facilities is transferred.
   1. To conduct training on the groundwater exploration geographic survey.
   2. To conduct training on the advanced technologies in drilling deep tube wells.
   3. To prepare equipment / materials necessary for the field training on the drilling of deep tube wells.
   4. To repair boring related equipment for the training on the drilling practice of deep tube wells.
   5. To compile lessons learned and good practices on drilling deep tube wells.
   6. To compile good practice / cases on the design of reservoir tanks.
   7. To prepare a manual for the training on the planning of water supply facility construction.
   8. To conduct training on the planning of water supply facility construction.
2. Advanced technology for rehabilitation of deep tube wells is transferred.
   1. To collect basic information for rehabilitation of existing deep tube wells.
   2. To conduct training on the rehabilitation of tube wells.
   3. To prepare equipment / materials necessary for the training practice to rehabilitate the existing deep tube wells.
   4. To compile lessons learned and good practices on the rehabilitation of deep tube wells.
3. Advanced techniques for maintenance / monitoring of water supply are transferred.
   1. To select the pilot township.
   2. To conduct a survey on the condition of the management/maintenance of water supply facilities by the villagers in the selected township.
   3. To prepare a manual for the villagers on the management/maintenance of water supply facilities.
   4. To prepare a manual for DDA staff on management and maintenance of water supply facilities.
   5. To conduct training for DDA staff on the management/maintenance of water supply facilities.
   6. To conduct training for the leader and member of water committee in the pilot township on maintenance of water supply facilities.
   7. To compile a case on the management / maintenance of the water supply facilities.

Inputs

Japanese Side:

• 10 experts(Chief Advisor, Chief Advisor(2), Geophysical Survey, Hydrogeology, Well Drilling Machine, Well Drilling, Mechanical Equipment, Water Supply Planning, Social Mobilization, Social Mobilization(2))
• Training of C/P in Japan
• Interpretation of monitoring data
• Machinery and Equipment

Myanmar Side:

• Counterpart Personnel
• Office space for Japanese experts at central level and local level
• Repair work shop and training facility and equipment necessary for the Project activities
• Others

Working Framework

All the activities are implemented by the JICA Expert Team based on mutual cooperation between an NGO, which has practiced persistent rural water supply projects in the Central Dry Zone, and the Consultants, who possess comprehensive techniques.

One of the JICA Expert Team members, namely Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), a Japanese Non-Profit Organization, has implemented rural water supply projects at Nyaung-U Township in the Central Dry Zone since March, 1999. BAJ also conducted JICA's grassroots technical cooperation for three years since July 2000 in the same area, and has established good relationships with the community as well as the regional office of the DDA. The Project aims at not only improving the techniques of DDA staff but also establishing an operation and maintenance system for rural water supply facilities. From the point of view of sustainable water use, support for community empowerment is also important. Therefore, it is expected that BAJ will utilize the persistent project experience as one of the JICA Expert Team members in this Project. As the BAJ, who has the experience to establish good relationships between both the regional offices of the DDA and the community, forms a joint team as a JICA Expert, the Project provides the support, putting more regards on deepening the relationship between the government and the community as well as effectively transferring techniques and know-how.

Beneficiary

Site survey

• DDA Staff
• Members of Water Management Committee
• Villagers who receive technical cooperation on water facilities
• Residents of the Central Dry Zone