PROGRAMA DE GESTIÓN DEL AGUA EN EL VALLE DE ARTIBONITY (PROGEBA) (in inglès)

There are different components to the technical assistance provided to this water management program. First of all, continued coaching will be provided on-site through facilitators and coaches. Specific training sessions as well as awareness and information campaigns will be organized for all users of the network. The project also includes follow-up and evaluation, along with reports, of the implemented activities. The goal is to improve the quality of the water services and user engagement.
Throughout the process, the consortium will seek to facilitate dialogue between the various actors, whether they be from public institutions, civil society or local authorities. The aim is to foster a better sense of understanding among all stakeholders and to establish good communication and trust between the affected communities, civil society and the decision makers.

The technical support provided is destined not only to the division responsible for water management within the Artibonite Valley’s development agency, but also to the groups of irrigation workers and various users’ associations. Support is deployed on three levels:

• one pilot sector where the reform is being implemented under the authority of 3 irrigation workers’ associations (in Bidonne, Laville and Lower Benoît)
• support to other existing associations
• building awareness among the users of the areas not yet covered by the associations in order to eventually constitute further irrigation workers’ associations.

On each level, the situation has to be assessed in such a way as to define the nature of the steps to be taken and to make improvements. Following the project, support is still deployed through technical training and awareness workshops, with the ultimate goal being for users to form new associations.

The Water Management Program in the Artibonite Valley also aims to redefine the radius of action for each different actor involved in water management.
As such, it is planning for the transfer of power over water utilities from the State to the irrigation workers’ associations, over a period of five years, for the secondary and tertiary hydraulic networks (operation and maintenance, collection of royalties, etc.). The activities to be implemented will allow the Organisation de développement de la vallée de l’Artibonite (ODVA) to remain responsible for the maintenance of the common areas of the network (Canneau dam, master and primary canals). The ODVA will also develop skills to better support the associations, as well as a new control function.

Finally, this project will foster the empowerment of the FASIVAL (Fédération des Associations d’Irrigants de la Vallée de l’Artibonite) as the coordination body for the
irrigation workers’ associations (planning for their needs in water supply, representing the users within the consultation organizations, etc.).