Planning and Execution of the European Union-Assisted Water Supply and Sanitation Projects in Imo State, Nigeria: Constraints, Lessons and Success Factors

Abstract

This paper analyses constraints, lessons and success factors, in the planning and execution of the European-Union Micro-Projects Programme on water supply in Imo State, Nigeria. The questionnaire was employed for data collection. From the results, the constraints indicated by the respondents are inadequate community involvement, sourcing of funds, reliance on top-down approach to water project delivery, inadequate distribution of sufficient surface/ground water, inappropriate cost recovery system, irregular functioning of installed facility, and inadequate local built-up capacity. It was also observed that the lessons indicated by the respondents are community involvement process, project delivery process, knowledge of project outcomes/benefits, operation and maintenance of projects, sense of project ownership, process of building capacity, and new project identification. Whereas the success factors indicated by the respondents are; inclusiveness of all socioeconomic groups, equitable sharing of costs and responsibility, stimulated timely delivery of project services, sustained achievement of project objectives, guaranteed equitable distribution of project benefits to all socioeconomic groups, promoted sense of project ownership, and stimulated new project identification. The paper concludes that the above factors provide feedback on the effectiveness of the Eu-Mpp6 externally-funded projects and they also provide the basis for formulating strategies for improving development projects in the future.