Improving Access to Infrastructure Services

Disadvantaged people are often excluded from essential and decentralised infrastructure service provision such as water, sanitation, energy, education and shelter.

Our work aims to improve the access of poor women and men to locally-managed services, by developing and disseminating:

• Technology that improves access to locally-managed water and sanitation
• Housing technologies and access to adequate shelter and secure tenure
• Modern, clean sustainable energy services (including cooking technologies)
• Technologies for solid waste management
• Information on improving the access of poor people to the resources, support and infrastructure they need to build their livelihoods.

Current Projects

Energising the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) – Setting the Enabling Environment (E-MINDSET)
Energy plays a crucial role in sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. It affects all aspects of development; social, economic, and environmental, including livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, education, and gender-related issues. Whilst improved access to modern energy services is crucial for the overall socio-economic development of the region, lack of local knowledge and skills in the area of energy planning has severely constrained the development of local energy initiatives with a focus on poverty reduction.

Catalysing Modern Energy Service Delivery to Marginal Communities in Southern Africa (Regional Hydro)
This five year project, funded by the European Commission, will rehabilitate six existing micro hydro schemes and establish nine new ones, targeting the mountainous regions of Manica in Mozambique, Mulanje in Malawi and Manicaland in Zimbabwe - where a combination of rugged terrain and perennial streams and rivers present a natural potential for the establishment of micro hydro schemes. This will enable the targeted 45,000 people in the three countries to access environmentally friendly energy annually.
 

Rehabilitation of Rural Water Points and Participatory Health and Hygiene Education (PHHE) in Zimbabwe
This project has improved access to water and sanitation facilities in some of the country's rural communities. This project started off in August 2003 and has been implemented in four phases now covering a total of 21 districts. The Community-Based Management (CBM) concept has been successfully integrated into the project by employing participatory methods focusing primarily on the communities playing a significant role in the management and maintenance of their own communal water infrastructure.

More about Practical Action's international Access to Infrastructure Services programme

Completed projects

Women in Construction
This project sought to pave way for women to join the lucrative construction industry which has been a male domain. With relevant technical, business and skills support, women demonstrated ability to tackle the challenges and opportunities within the construction industry. 46 building enterprises were established in Epworth, Chitungwiza, Norton, Rusape and Marondera whilst a total of 350 people underwent Training for Transformation as well as technical training in the production of low cost bricks and tiles.

Improving Urban Livelihoods
The project was geared towards increasing disposable incomes of marginalised urban men and women in selected locations. This was done by synthesizing experiences and lessons emanating from the work carried out under the shelter technology programme in Domboramwari and New Gada areas of Epworth. 94 out of 550 benefited from the project whilst a housing cooperative comprising 50 members was established in Epworth. It was a culmination of experiences in other foregoing projects including the Integrated Urban Development Project (IUDP).

Nyamarimbira Integrated Water Project
The project improved the livelihoods and food security of men and women in Ward 21 of Nyanga District through the provision of water for irrigation and domestic use as well as the provision of energy for Tsatse - a local primary school. 200 out of 321 project members are utilizing water from the project to irrigate their pieces of land.

Building Materials and Shelter
Practical Action Southern Africa's Building Materials and Shelter programme had a number of projects designed to meet the needs of low-income earners for low-cost alternative building materials for shelter purposes, such as stabilised soil blocks and micro-concrete roofing tiles.

Small-scale mining
The Mineral Industries programme supported small scale miners with a variety of services, including drilling, blasting, extension services, training and information. The Women in Mining project trained women in mining processes.The programme also established the internationally renowned Shamva Mining Centre- a place where small scale miners could process their ore on a hire basis.

Integrated Urban Development Project
The Integrated Urban Development Project was started in 1997 with the goal of ensuring an integrated approach to improve the livelihoods of the urban poor. The project purpose is to enable poor and marginalised urban dwellers to meet their basic needs. In its second phase the IUDP, developed an international scope, operating in Nakuru, Kenya and Chitungwiza and Epworth in Zimbabwe, and resulted in the Improving Urban Livelihoodsproject.

Improving Urban Environment with Organisations of Poor Women and Men Project
As urban environmental problems worsen, non-conventional approaches to urban waste management have to be adopted. In response to these challenges, Practical Action Southern Africa is carrying out work in Chitungwiza , Epworth and Mbare. The initiative is working with Community Based Organisations in these areas and seeks to address the growing problem of urban poverty through initiatives that focus on improving the urban environment with communities, in ways which are managed and controlled by them.

Integrated and decentralised service delivery to flood-displaced communities in Mozambique
The project goal is to improve the livelihoods of flood-displaced communities in Mozambique through locally managed and provided basic infrastructure services, as a solution to long-term development needs. Improving access to suitable shelter, water and energy and other services will help stimulate income generation and employment creation.

The NGO Joint Initiative for Urban Zimbabwe
The project goal is to restore dignity and reduce suffering for the most vulnerable in urban and peri-urban areas of Zimbabwe, through increased shelter delivery services to the most vulnerable in the urban and peri -urban areas in Zimbabwe.