ADFA - Eil Afwein Water Project Berkad Construction

Eil Afwein Water Project Berkad Construction, November 2011

Introduction

Somaliland is semi-arid. With annual rainfalls less than 250 mm, water has a high priority. There are no permanent surface water resources and Somaliland is therefore almost entirely dependent on rainwater, with the exception of a few deep Wells. Rainfall distribution is bi-modal. It falls mostly in the Gu (mid-April to June) and the Deyr (October to December) rainy seasons. During the two dry-seasons water supplies are the major limiting factors for human as well as livestock survival. People depend on livestock as their main source of income. This reflects the dependence on the avalibility of water supply. Water Reservoir( Berkads) are the main water source in many areas of Somaliland. Especially in Sanaag.

In this season Somaliland has long prevailed drought affected in all Regions of Somaliland, Especially rural people and livestock. Water scarcities are common problems in Sanaag region during the dry periods water becomes scarcity and water sources such as shallow wells, communal owned water reservoirs are usually dried up. TASCO has received a project grant jointly funded by Danish Muslim Aid and Australian Doctors for Africa (ADFA) which was Funded Number of projects through TASCO. Australian Doctors For Africa and Danish Muslim Aid are main donors for TASCO projects in Somaliland.

Project Objectives

To Construct Underground water reservoir (Berkad) in Eil-Afwein Community
To collect Safe Water from the rain harvest.
To help -Afwein community to get clean Water
To give clean and safe Drinking water
Water to be Available of all kind of use.

Activities on Development of Eil-Afwein Community

First of all TASCO has contacted Eil-Afwein Community leaders and local authorities, beneficiaries, where the projects were sited for implementations.

TASCO has made necessary consultations with Community leaders presenting and sharing with them about planning and completing project activities.

The Community leaders with facilitation of TASCO have reviewed the implemented project activities on the bases of equal importance for all concerned parties.

Constant consultation with The Community Leader and Committees of the District and they were involved every step of the construction.

Preparation of New Berkad in Eil-Afwein District

Site Selection
- The Committee of Eil-Afwein Selected the position of Berkad.
- Community of Eil-Afwein start Digging the excavation of Berkad.
- The Excavation of Berkad takes two weeks to excavate.
- Excavation Consist of (Horizontal 12m long, 7 width, Vertical 3m on Depth.

Construction Process of New Berkad in Eil-Afwein District

The construction process of a barked is usually divided into four Phases
- Planning
  The Eil-Afwein Community planes the area of the barked and the capacity of the barked. And TASCO planed the barked and its cost.
- Digging of a hole
  
  Digging the hole is the first thing of the contribution from the community, they digging the scale size of width, depth and length.
  
  After digging the whole TASCO monitor the site of Berkad at Eil-Afwein district and make consultation the district committee and community.
- Collection of materials and finding skilled labor
  The collection of the material and finding skilled labor depends on the TASCO experience of construction of water project that has been implemented for different region in Somaliland. TASCO arranged the collection of material and labor.
- Construction
  The Duration of the Construction Depends on
  - The Duration of the Construction Depends on
  - The Size of Barked
  - Good Preparation of Crew and material
  - TASCO received grant funds from Australian Doctors for Africa and Danish Muslim Aid
  - TASCO started purchasing materials and equipment: cement, sand, gravel stones, iron bars, bending wire, Corrugated iron Sheet, water, and nails, Wheel Barrows, Red and White woods,
  - TASCO has identified for recruitment: labor, masons, mixer and two foreman trained by Taakulo,
  - TASCO Crew Started Stone arrangement in Berkad Construction
  - TASCO Administration Officer Monitoring the Construction Process and it’s starting day of the work,
  - TASCO mason started edifice of the foundation of the first day of the construction
  - TASCO masons making sure that measurement is Correct width and length of Berkad,
  - TASCO Administration Officer overseeing the work every day,
  - TASCO administration officer is supervising the Foreman and masons, to complete the construction as it was planned.
  - TASCO Crew started link-Concrete bottom of the Berkad,
  - Link-concrete is 15cm consist of
    - Gravel
    - Cement
    - Sand and
    - Water mixed
  - TASCO crew takes three days to finalize Link-concrete ,
  - TASCO Foreman and masons starting Stones to build up to the Berkad,
  - After four Days Crew Finalize first face of construction 1.4 meter of the stone building,
  - TASCO Crew set first pin of link-concrete between two faces of stones construction,
  - TASCO Foreman and mason began second face of the stone construction,
  - TASCO takes another four days to finalize second face of construction,
  - TASCO Crew set second pin of link-concrete one day,
  - TASCO foreman and masons began first day of blustering of stones,
  - Berkad Blustering
  - TASCO crew began top foundation to set roofing and they finalize two days
  - TASCO crew began Roofing of Berkad and its divided the three,
  - Wood setting
  - Fixing wood to foundation
  - Fixed wood and Corrugated Iron and take three days ,
  - TASCO crew Completed after twenty one days of Berkad Construction of El-Afwein District Sanaag region,
  - TASCO has taken photo on the Berkad-construction, step by step of the construction work of the Berkad.
  - TASCO Chairperson participated the final stage of the completion of the Berkad.
  - TASCO has invited Community Committee and El-Afwein Local authorities to witness completion of the Barked.

Achievements

Construct Berkad Eil-Afwein Community
Agrees roles and Regulations of construction,
Eil-Afwein Community get New Water Storage.

Lessons learnt

During the implementation process of the construction activities Taakulo has come across number of problems.
It was the first project to implement at Eil-Afwein, with participation of the District Committee it was straight forward this time.
Organization of beneficiaries needs experience and proper handling because tuning them on the right path is not an easy job

Conclusion

This report is reporting to donor of this Berkad and it talks about Step by step of the construction and purchasing material and the benefit of the Eil-Afwein Community it has,
Also Taakulo add effort to complete the construction of Berkad, TASCO assured step by step its quality Bottom up top of Berkad construction.