By Senior Project Officer Diana Gonzalez Botero

During the first phase of the Pacific Community Water Management Plus (PaCWaM+) research, the teams in Solomon Islands and Fiji spent a week in each study community collecting data about community water management, household water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and health situations, water quality, sanitary risk assessment and the socio-economic context. 

After completing the data collection and analysis, the PaCWaM+ team delivered summary reports and posters back to these communities to inform them of the research findings.The four-page summary reporthighlights the key findings related to the WASH situation, strengths and weaknesses of the village water system management, people’s perceptions of the main issues in the community, and the key water management challenges experienced by residents. The report also includes key recommendations that community members and leaders can implement to improve their water services, as well as information about hand hygiene in the context of COVID-19.

The report also includes key recommendations that community members and leaders can implement to improve their water services, as well as information about hand hygiene in the context of COVID-19.

Copies of the village reports were presented to the Village Chief, the Water Committee, and the village nurse in each community. Additionally, posters were displayed in public places where all the community members could see them. 

The water committee members who received thesereports thanked the research team for conducting the research in their community and for bringing back the results. A water committee chairman from one of the communities said, “the report shares a very powerful message to the village”and noted that they have started planning how the committee can work together with the community to improve their water supply system and management practices based on the research findings. 

Community members receive research findings reports. Photo: IWC.