Improving sanitation in drought-hit Angola

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) program in Angola has trained local administration authorities on improving sanitation for local communities in Cunene province, the province most prone to waterborne diseases, such as cholera.

Lack of latrines in villages drive peopel to defecate in the bush. “People fetch their water for drinking and other domestic use from man-made dams called chimpaka,” an LWF staff member said. “The problem is, this is also where livestock go to drink. With open air defecation, all rubbish accumulates in these dams contaminating the water.”

The situation in Cunene and neighboring Huila province worsened in previous years when extreme weather and long dry spells made water supplies scarce. The effects of these droughts are still visible. LWF assisted during the drought with food aid and sanitation. It continues its hygiene and sanitation programs until today.

Despite the Total Sanitation Led by Community/Schools program which started in 2008 in Huila province and was introduced in Cunene in 2010, real sanitation has yet to be achieved in southern Cunene. Although there is funding and commitment at government level, complex political structures make it difficult or even impossible to identify the person responsible for advocating for better sanitation with the communities.

In consequence, LWF Angola is training the local administration authorities to carry on with community-led sanitation and hygiene activities to ensure sustainability even after external partners stop funding. Currently, LWF Angola assists the rural communities in two municipalities of Cunene province.

“The knowledge and commitment to be acquired here is to achieve sustainability in our work,” the vice provincial governor said upon the opening of the workshop. “We must now promote and introduce the work for total sanitation in all local structures and beyond.”

Through these trainings at municipal and communal levels, the project aims to improve the knowledge of the local administration authorities on community-led sanitation, and to incorporate sanitation into the provincial and municipal development plans.

“We never thought the TSLC program can be included in the municipal development budget,” one of the participants said. “Communities should be prepared to fight against poor sanitation in their own respective areas,” another added.

LWF Angola in partnership with UNICEF and in collaboration with Peoples In Need – PIN are engaged to build the capacity of the local administration authorities. “Our aim is no more open air defecation in Cunene,” the vice governor said.

Contribution by Abrao Mushivi, LWF Angola program Interim Country Representative