[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]DEVELOPING A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR SWAJALPROJECT
(Developing a Communication Strategy for Uttarakhand Water Supply & Sanitation Project for Peri-Urban Areas (World Bank Assisted Project))
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
The State of Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh and established in November 2000 as 27th state of Union of India. The state is predominantly mountainous and covers a total area of 53483 sq km out of which almost 63% is under forest cover. The state comprises 13 administrative districts viz Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar in Kumaon division and Chamoli, Pauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Haridwar, Dehradun and Rudraprayag in Garhwal division. As per the 2011 census, the statehas a population of 10.01 million and 7.30 million i.e. 70 percent live in the rural areas, spread over the 7,657 Gram Panchayats (GPs), in 16,793 villages and 39,309 habitations.
The proposed Follow-on- project will be implemented on the approach of ‘Program for Results’ (PforR) for the peri-urban areas in 07 districts out of 13 districts of the state. This requires a paradigm shift from the existing delivery systems, thus, it demands huge proactive efforts to create the interest and capacity in all key stakeholders. Therefore, as a part of Project preparation the SWSM intends to conduct a study on developing the communication strategy for the proposed Water Supply and Sanitation Program to be implemented in peri-urban areas of the targeted districts of the State.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The study aims at developing a communication plan and strategy for (i) creating awareness among the different stakeholders especially ground level functionaries, (ii) sharing project information (scope and progress) with decision makers, responsible agencies, ground level functionaries, consultants and contractors; (iii) explain the project and resolve concerns raised by affected persons/beneficiaries (iv) involve beneficiaries in field-level monitoring activities. The study also aims to draw an effective framework featuring the responsible agency, resource requirements/ resource mapping for implementing the plan and strategy, means and forms of communication as well as timeline. The study shall be beneficial to indicate the tools of communication so as create an inclusive environment among the different stakeholders for informed decision making.
COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT
• Understand current communication strategy, tools and activities at each stakeholders level for various concurrent water and sanitation (WatSan) projects
• Determine the communication strategy foreach stakeholders level during different program milestones
• Develop effective communication strategyfor each level and type of stakeholders’ in a way that it suggests the adequate activity corresponding to each of the program component and milestones.
TARGET AREA AND TARGET GROUPS OF THE PROJECT
The target area of the project was Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar Districts of Uttarakhand.
FUNDING AGENCY
The project was funded by State Water & Sanitation Mission (SWSM), Uttarakhand, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun (World Bank Assisted Project).
COST OF THE PROJECT
The project was sanctioned by SWSM in the year 2016 vide Contract No. 01/2016-17 dated 29.09.2016. Total cost of the assignment sanctioned by SWSM for twelve months was Rs. 12,95,338.00[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”1002,1003,1004,1005,1006,1007″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row]