Project Maji has joined hands with Bryan Acheampong Foundation, a registered Ghanaian NGO, in support of sustainable access to safe water. An MOU has been signed and the partnership is geared towards mechanizing existing borewells, essentially, installing solar-powered water kiosks for a reliable and sustainable source of water in the chosen communities. Read on to learn about the potential impact of this collaboration.
Bryan Acheampong Foundation, a Ghanaian non-profit, is running a variety of social impact programmes with the aim of furthering the sustainable development agenda in the country’s Kwahu East District. Under its WASH programme, the foundation aims to mechanize borewells and water supply for rural communities to ensure sustainability. This is where Project Maji comes in, as an expert implementing partner providing both the system and services to ensure sustainable access to safe water.
Critically, the partnership is designed to complement and strengthen each party’s core competencies in support of safe water access. For us, site selection based on a variety of socio-geographical criteria is undoubtedly a challenge. The foundation’s support and existing rapport in the three pilot sites will greatly ease our penetration in the communities. Similarly, Project Maji brings technical expertise required to deploy robust sustainable water solutions, to the table. Our support will enable BAF to mechanize borewells and provide a reliable source of safe water to communities in need.
Division of Responsibilities
As standard procedure BAF performs hydrogeological assessments ensuring the water quality meets WHO standards and pumping tests to ensure aquifer sustainability requirements can be met. Next, the foundation will introduce Project Maji’s Ghana Team to community leadership so that our model can be clearly laid out from the get-go, and any potential concerns be addressed. Capitalizing on their existing rapport with the communities, BAF assures full support to Project Maji during community sensitization processes to encourage patronage for each site. In the pilot phase, BAF has agreed to provide 3 borewells that meet the above-mentioned criteria.
On the other hand, as a first step, Project Maji is responsible for raising funds for the execution of the programme. In the pilot phase, Project Maji has committed to mechanizing the 3 selected borewells before 1st June 2022. Project Maji has agreed to charge a minimal tariff of 10 Pesewas for a bucket of 20 Litres. Finally, we assume responsibility of the operation and maintenance of the water kiosks, by means of signing a tri-party MoU with the community and the District Assembly.
Anticipated Impact
During the pilot phase, the 3 solar-powered Maji kiosks will be installed in Aduamoah, Nkwatia and Abetifi communities in Kwahu East District, each serving a community of approximately 1,000 people. That is, a total of 3,000 lives transformed with sustainable access to clean water. We look forward to strengthening this partnership in support of safe water access, and scaling our joint impact in the future.