CLTS Training

Executive Summary
There was a slow start to the quarter due to delays in procurement of a boat for transportation. However, the SRCA Team in Ranongga was able to attend the launching of the program to local stakeholders and NGOs on 19th May, CLTS Facilitator training from 23 – 27May, and start their first village visits in June.
Key Activities

1. CLTS facilitator training
   The CLTS facilitator training (23-27 May) was organised by ADRA, and attended by the SRCA team, with all team members receiving their certificate at the end of the Program. The team found the training difficulty but enjoyable, and were proud to be involved. After the training, the team went back and had a week off to prepare for their village visits.
2. Baseline survey (HH KAP Survey) for # communities
   Following the CLTS facilitator training, the SRCA team commenced their village visits in Jun 2022. They first visited Mondo and Keigold in the week commencing 13 Jun 22, and then made the trip to Patu two weeks later. Trip reports from the first three village visits are included in the annex.

Achievements
The main achievement this quarter was the team’s successful pre-triggering and triggering meetings in Keigold, Mondo and Patu. The SRCA Team worked hard at the initial CLTS Facilitator training, and their efforts were shown in their first village visits. All three communities responded positively to the Triggering, and are motivated to achieve NOD Certification.

Challenges
The main challenge this month was the delayed procurement of the boat by UNICEF. The original funding request allowed for purchase of the boat in Gizo by the SRCA team, however this was amended to allow UNICEF to provide the boat from UNICEF supply. However, the procurement of the boat has been delayed, which requires the SRCA team to hire a boat for every trip. This, and the rising cost of fuel, is impacting the projects budget, but also limits their ability to reach communities due to the additional coordination required.

Key Result Indicators
As per https://etools.unicef.org/pmp/interventions/73/details?schema=pacific_islands *UNPP Key Indicator

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
1st CLTS facilitator training in Western Province 2022
ADRA organized the 1st CLTS training for Western province with 27 participants attended, including CLTS team from SRCA, provincial RWASH officers, and community representatives from Simbo, Ranongga and Kolombangara, from 23rd – 27th May in Kukundu SDA mission, Kolombangara. Iriri and Taghoapa communities were involved with the training and triggered by the participants successfully.

The SRCA team was commended for their efforts at training by the UNICEF Programme Manager. All team members found the training to be challenging, and were happy to receive their certificates at the end. Pre

Triggering and Triggering Meetings – Mondo, Keigold and Patu.

In the first three weeks after the team completed training, they were able to visit three villages, and conduct pre-triggering and triggering meetings with over 369 people. The team have really enjoyed the initial household survey process during pre-triggering. All three villages then responded positively to the triggering, and are very motivated to achieve NOD certification. At Mondo and Keigold pre-triggering, they had almost 50% attendance from Female leaders, which was a key goal of the program. They helped set up sanitation vendors in both Mondo and Patu.

In Patu, the children were very engaged with the triggering, and delivery a very powerful, touching and emotional sanitation message to their parents. The participation of the community, both male and female, during the mapping exercises and calculations has been a highlight for the team. They have been able to engage with village members at all levels, from the elders down to the children, and this is contributing to the early success of the program. All three villages can’t wait to be the next NOD community in Ranongga.

LESSON LEARNT, CHALLENGES & BUDGET ISSUES

Lesson Learnt
The first quarter has been successful, but has been a lesson in CLTS specifically, and UNICEF processes more generally for the SRCA team. The key lesson learnt has been the reporting and documentation requirements of UNICEF. The SRCA team has developed a system for planning, tracking and reporting costs on a regular basis, to be able to provide UNICEF with a high level of visibility of expenditure against the budget. This allows for the quick identification of budget under and overruns. Now that the team have completed three village visits, they have the following observations to
improve the CLTS training:
• Villages expect handouts from SRCA;
• Communities have a better understanding of hygiene practices when demonstrations are shown, rather than questioned;
• Thirdly, the use of the word ‘shit’ when directly translated to their own language or dialect is considered disrespectful. Therefore, the lyrics of ‘KAKAI SITI’ need to be changed before the next village visit to avoid offence; and
• Finally, a backing track should be made so that the song can be sung with music, to better engage the community.

Challenges

The key challenge during the first quarter of the project has been the delay in the delivery of the boat from UNICEF. The original budget included a cash amount for SRCA to purchase a boat locally. However, this was subsequently amended to provision of a boat by UNICEF Supply, rather than cash. At the time of writing this report, the boat has not been provided. SRCA developed some options for long term rental, and rent-to-buy to assist the process. The boat is now anticipated for delivery in Aug-Sep 2022, pending finalisation of procurement. Aside from the cost impact of needing to hire a boat for every village trip, this also impacts the teams flexibility in planning. All trips, including purchasing supplies, must be pre-planned based on availability of rental boats, which has impacted program. Recurrent fuel shortages in the Solomon Islands have resulted in trips being postponed. This is a secondary challenge which has contributed to some of the delayed productivity during the first quarter. This issue is expected to continue for the duration of the project, and is outside of the control of the project team. The team will work around fuel shortages, and reschedule visits where required.