Blowing it Out of the Water: Community Empowerment and Clean Water in Rural Moldova
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By Maggie Callahan
February 20, 2020
Rural communities often lack access to healthcare facilities, modern technology, proper sanitation measures and education. These issues compound each other. A prime example is in the Moldovan village Vorniceni, where in 2003, a state of emergency was declared after 75 students contracted Hepatitis A because of contaminated drinking water. The community sprang into action and launched a rural network to ensure all rural localities had access to clean water.
The Moldovan Network of Rural Volunteering Centers for Water (MNRVCW) was created to improve the management of the nearby Dniester River’s tributaries and to involve residents, stakeholders and beneficiaries in the process. The MNRVCW coordinates the efforts of existing citizen organizations, NGOs, local officials and public services, independent businesses and academic institutions. There is a central body which oversees the identification of water sources, infrastructure design and project planning and implementation.
Access to clean water has long been an issue in rural Moldova. Aqueducts are only present in less than half of rural localities, and more than half of existing aqueducts do not meet sanitation standards. Low personal income within these localities and insufficient local and state budgets made solving this issue nearly impossible. With no assistance from the national government, local communities took the lead on ensuring that safe drinking water is accessible.
Despite having immense human capital, financial capital to support rural Moldovan clean water projects was lacking. The community looked outward and began receiving grants from Dutch and German organizations. These funds only supported the ongoing efforts of the MNRVCW.
After securing outside funding, the organization was able to use local experts and their intimate local insight and knowledge to solve local problems. Local experts have ensured suitable water quality analysis, maintained the ecological monitoring of pumps and wells and created a water caravan. Moreover, the local youth were able to learn about and participate in the planning and implementation of water projects through the Water Youth Parliament.
Local experts are not the only citizens participating in the management of clean water. Locals are able to discuss issues regarding their water quality and health in yearly local and regional Water Forums. The management of these non-expert voices is consolidated into the Association of Water Consumers.
The expansive network was also an effective communication network. Through the MNRVCW, information was able to circulate regarding sanitary measures and personal hygiene. This lead to an increase in sanitation and hygiene across the rural areas.
The MNRVCW is testament to the innate ability of local communities to solve their problems if given access to the requisite financial resources. Inside knowledge and local participation has been key to the MNRVCW’s success and has broadened access to clean water, empowering citizens along the way. When it comes to rural clean water project planning and monitoring, local experts in Moldova have blown it out of the water.
To learn more about this case https://participedia.net/case/1172. To read about other innovative applications of public participation, visit www.participedia.net.
Author: Maggie Callahan biography: Maggie Callahan is a master’s student of public diplomacy at Syracuse University and a graduate assistant for the Participedia Project at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She holds a bachelor’s in political science and economics from Mercer University and has worked in Georgian, Moroccan and Nepalese nongovernmental organizations and the American government. Follow her on Twitter: @laissezmaggie
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Blowing it Out of the Water: Community Empowerment and Clean Water in Rural Moldova
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By Maggie Callahan
February 20, 2020
Rural communities often lack access to healthcare facilities, modern technology, proper sanitation measures and education. These issues compound each other. A prime example is in the Moldovan village Vorniceni, where in 2003, a state of emergency was declared after 75 students contracted Hepatitis A because of contaminated drinking water. The community sprang into action and launched a rural network to ensure all rural localities had access to clean water.
The Moldovan Network of Rural Volunteering Centers for Water (MNRVCW) was created to improve the management of the nearby Dniester River’s tributaries and to involve residents, stakeholders and beneficiaries in the process. The MNRVCW coordinates the efforts of existing citizen organizations, NGOs, local officials and public services, independent businesses and academic institutions. There is a central body which oversees the identification of water sources, infrastructure design and project planning and implementation.
Access to clean water has long been an issue in rural Moldova. Aqueducts are only present in less than half of rural localities, and more than half of existing aqueducts do not meet sanitation standards. Low personal income within these localities and insufficient local and state budgets made solving this issue nearly impossible. With no assistance from the national government, local communities took the lead on ensuring that safe drinking water is accessible.
Despite having immense human capital, financial capital to support rural Moldovan clean water projects was lacking. The community looked outward and began receiving grants from Dutch and German organizations. These funds only supported the ongoing efforts of the MNRVCW.
After securing outside funding, the organization was able to use local experts and their intimate local insight and knowledge to solve local problems. Local experts have ensured suitable water quality analysis, maintained the ecological monitoring of pumps and wells and created a water caravan. Moreover, the local youth were able to learn about and participate in the planning and implementation of water projects through the Water Youth Parliament.
Local experts are not the only citizens participating in the management of clean water. Locals are able to discuss issues regarding their water quality and health in yearly local and regional Water Forums. The management of these non-expert voices is consolidated into the Association of Water Consumers.
The expansive network was also an effective communication network. Through the MNRVCW, information was able to circulate regarding sanitary measures and personal hygiene. This lead to an increase in sanitation and hygiene across the rural areas.
The MNRVCW is testament to the innate ability of local communities to solve their problems if given access to the requisite financial resources. Inside knowledge and local participation has been key to the MNRVCW’s success and has broadened access to clean water, empowering citizens along the way. When it comes to rural clean water project planning and monitoring, local experts in Moldova have blown it out of the water.
To learn more about this case https://participedia.net/case/1172. To read about other innovative applications of public participation, visit www.participedia.net.
Author: Maggie Callahan biography: Maggie Callahan is a master’s student of public diplomacy at Syracuse University and a graduate assistant for the Participedia Project at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She holds a bachelor’s in political science and economics from Mercer University and has worked in Georgian, Moroccan and Nepalese nongovernmental organizations and the American government. Follow her on Twitter: @laissezmaggie
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