Rural poor choose their water and sanitation services in Lao PDR

Preparation for the World Bank-financed Provincial Infrastructure Project for Oudomxai and Phongsali provinces in northern Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) was carried out during the larger part of 1997. In a radical departure from the usual practice of hiring specialized international consultant firms, the preparation for the rural water supply and sanitation sub-component was entrusted to the national water supply and environmental health program of the Government of Lao PDR. They accomplished their task working in partnership with related sector personnel and representatives from mass organizations of Lao women and youth. In a never-before-attempted approach, the project preparation teams drove, walked, climbed, and rowed to more than 30 villages in the two provinces to consult women and men at length about their water and sanitation preferences, beliefs and practices. Technical and capacity building support for the work was provided by the regional water and sanitation group for East Asia and the Pacific, of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-World Bank Water and Sanitation Program. The result of this intensive collective learning process was a sub-project that the Government of Lao PDR has named HASWAS, for Hygiene Awareness, Sanitation and Water Supply.