Transformative Journey of the Water Management in Ijaara Village, Somaliland

In a stride towards a self-sustainable future, Pharo Foundation equips local communities with the technical knowledge and skills required to support water management and safeguard clean water supplies. In a pledge to address community water scarcity, the Foundation wanted to extend its services beyond providing the water source as a one-off, ensuring that future generations would no longer be plagued with concern over their water supply and safety.

On August 9th, the Foundations Water and Sanitation and Hygiene Department (WASH) embarked on a dynamic 4-day water management and hygiene promotion training in the village of Injaara. In order to solidify a system that encourages sustainable water usage and management, the Foundation provided training to a Water Management Committee (WMC) made up of a diverse and dedicated group of six men and four visionary women.

However, this was more than just training; it was a manifesto for change in Ijaara’s water security and sanitation. The Foundation began this journey towards water security in Ijarara when it completed the Hafir Dam project to provide access to regular and safe water for the area’s inhabitants. The project itself had one purpose, to solve water scarcity in Ijaara, but the training has empowered the community to ensure their water security in the future.

The Foundation recognises that knowledge and vigilance are the keys to ensuring lasting change. Thus, the WMC was entrusted with safeguarding progress. Functions were discussed during the training to ensure that participants understood their responsibilities. Furthermore, the participants received training in water well management procedures such as maintenance, repair, infrastructure monitoring, and comprehensive training in conflict resolution to prepare them to resolve any potential issues in the future. Challenges and disagreements are as much a part of life as water, so we have equipped the WMC with the tools they will need to manage any conflict that arises.

Yet, the training transcended infrastructure management as it delved into water storage, where strategies were imparted to guard against contamination and reduce the danger of waterborne diseases. The committee members were exposed to the notion of a water safety chain and water purifying machinery to underline the significance of protecting and preserving water quality from storage to consumption.

In sum, Pharo Foundation has laid out many of the tools which are necessary to encourage water sustainability and access for generations to come.