Empowering rural communities Rainwater harvesting by women groups in Rakai, Uganda Julianne Rugasira, Millie Abaru and Rolf Winberg

This book describes how women in Rakai District in Uganda organized themselves to solve a serious problem: the lack of safe, clean water. The groups of women built tanks to collect rainwater from the roofs of their houses. At the start the focus was on solving the immediate problem of bad water: neither the women, nor their supporters, planned a long-term commitment. The expansion that later took place was almost accidental.

The people in the Rakai communities have become empowered in important ways. The women have taken the lead, but men have also been involved in the work and have shared the benefits. There is clear potential for the range of activities to grow, and for larger numbers of people to be involved.

Contents

• Introduction
• Study methods
• Intervention methods
• Training and group initiatives
• Group management
• Diversification
• Gender and social issues
• Empowerment
• Support
• Impact and outreach
• Sustainability
• Constraints
• Best practices

Julianne Rugasira, Millie Abaru and Rolf Winberg. 2002. Empowering rural communities: Rainwater harvesting by women groups in Rakai, Uganda. Technical report 29, Regional Land Management Unit, SIDA, Nairobi. ISBN 9966-896-47-3

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