Woman Leadership in Rural WASH: Water User Group Lualisa

Ms. Rosa Soares, 44 years old, is the head of the GMF Lualisa water system in Gugleur Village, Maubara Administrative Post, Liquiçá Municipality. Ms. Rosa has been leading GMF since 2016.

Water User Group Lualisa leading by Ms.Rosa was rehabilitated by WaterAid Timor-Leste with its implementing partners FHTL, and Gender module session with GFFTL was conducted to the community in encouraging the women to take leadership role and community to give same oppotunity for women to lead.

As the leader of the GMF Lualisa water system, Ms. Rosa is also the head of the family to care for five children (5); some are still studying, and some have married. Children are very supportive of the work of Ms. Rosa as head of GMF. The daily activities of Ms. Rosa are handicrafts and selling things to get income to support family needs. And this income can also be used to contribute to the funding of the Lualisa water system every month.

"………………………… I became the Head of GMF because this community trusts me, and they chose me through a meeting as the Head of GMF. ……………………….. the community chose me, so they had to listen and believe me". Said Ms. Rosa.

As the head of GMF, the role and responsibility are to organize meetings with the community together with the community leaders. Another role is to organize the community to share tasks with the community, from the construction of the water system to the community. Organize the community to work together to care for the water source, such as by cleaning the water source, cleaning the water tank, repairing pipes, etc. Always remind the community to make a contribution to the water system's funding every month. From the contribution of the funds, the public tap coordinators are responsible for collecting from the families using public taps; after that, the public tap coordinators are handed over to the GMF Treasurer to prepare a report for the quarterly meeting of GMF members.

The Lualisa water system began to be installed in 2016, and at that time it completed the construction and delivery to the community to fully lead it and make the O&M so that the water supply to the community has continuity.

In 2016 to 2021, the community began to make a monthly contribution to a family of US$1 and decided this tariff through community meetings that, in line with the Timor-Leste government guidelines for rural water supply, over ten percent (10%) of the project's contribution was needed so that GMF could have enough funding for O&M. The amount of money for 4 years is US$1,400. When the contribution has been met at 10%, the contribution has been reduced to fifty cents (US$0.50) by community ability, and the amount will be maintained for permanent O&M funds.

With the funds available, the community can respond to the maintenance of the Lualisa water system when it is flooded and damaged.

There were also meetings between GMF members, which took place every 3 months, to discuss the progress and challenges of the water system and to hear some challenges from each of the tap coordinators. The meeting also discussed the community's contribution to accessing the water system, and all communities are very active in making their contribution every month. And the community also always contributes to consumption or food when meeting at the community level.

In addition to the quarterly meeting for GMF members, there are meetings every six months with the community, and there are extraordinary meetings with GMF and community leaders when there are disasters that affect the water supply, which will immediately be able to take action to resolve the damage.

The Lualisa water system is composed of nine (9) taps, with every tap access by three households, or four. "……………I put out an idea of how all households can get the water every day; I talked to the coordinators about how we take the jerigen, put the jerigen in the tap, and then make a hole according to the total number of households, put the hose and connect it to each household, and it is easy for everyone, including people with disabilities, to access the water because the water used is according to the time given". Said Ms. Rosa.

The community has access to the water according to the time given, such as when the water is open at 6 a.m. and will be closed at 6 p.m. In order to fill the water into the large tank at night, and the water will continue to be distributed to the community the following day.

As the head of GMF, some of the challenges faced are that if there are problems or damages to the water system, the community always goes first to the head of GMF. As the head of GMF, always give a good response, saying that it should be calm and that all communities need to sit together to resolve it. Because working at GMF is also a volunteer job.

Through a number of efforts, Ms. Rosa, as the head of GMF, and all of the GMF structures have been able to manage the Lualisa water system very well. And there is also great collaboration with the community, so as the head of GMF, there are some innovative ideas that aim to make changes in the community. Through the use of available water, it is being planned to plant vegetables in the community. "……………… the vegetables can be eaten, and some can be brought to the market, and some money can be used to make contributions every month". Said Ms. Rosa.

Ms. Rosa has a dream of becoming chief of a sub-village.

These phisycal construction and social activities of GEDSI is supported by the Australian Government through Water for Women and implemented by WaterAid Timor-Leste and its implementing partners FHTL and GFFTL.