Funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Oxfam in Tajikistan took actions to improve drinking water in Tezgari Poyon village of Rudaki Jamoat. The village is located in Rudaki district at 20 km far from the Dushanbe, however, for decades it was left with outdated and   water supply system not sufficient to function in full capacity. A potable water system with capacitor discharge 40m³/hrs and 7,829 length has been constructed supplying water to 3148 women, women and children. Not only does the scheme provide water to residents, but also school and local health point has been piped with water. In addition, the bore hole has been supplied with ultraviolet (UV) water purifier to make water safe to drink.

It is worth noting that construction was also co-funded by district authorities. Overall cost of the water supply system was 1,802,788 TJK, and of this, 6% was a contribution from Rudaki hukumat and community of Tezgari Poyon village. 

Complementary to construction system, 197 sessions on hygiene and sanitation were conducted by Oxfam project team for community residents and village school. Overall, 2,118 pupils and village residents were trained about safety and hygiene control of their everyday life related to water and sanitation.

Two new toilets in village secondary school and village health point were constructed. These facilities are appropriately designed and meet all SPHERE standards and requirements and easy for replication by community residents.         

Full participation of community through cash and in-kind contribution, authorities’ involvement in on-site supervision ensured transparent decision making and ownership of the system by its users. The Water Users Association (WUA) was set up in the village to manage the water supply system and take responsibility over the utility operation and maintenance.  The water scheme will operate with installed water meter in every household to ensure sustainability of the infrastructure functionality and each household will be entitled to water fee payment, that was agreed with the community members through consultation meetings. This will help water service provider sustain the operation of utility for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provide a technical service when necessary.

‘The constructed water supply system has brought back basic humans right to clean water, improved hygiene and sanitation conditions in our village’-said Safarbek Chakkalov, head of Tesgari Poyon village, he continues-‘and it is in response to implementation of the ‘International Decade for Action’ Water for Sustainable Development’.