Mashinani Development Project: Course Case Study

Context

Mashinani Development Project is a hypothetical project designed to enhance your understanding, conceptualization, and application by deriving examples and tools from it. It is a classic example of a development project planned and implemented in an ideal environment.

The case study has been used to develop the following tools in this course.

• Stakeholder Influence Matrix
• Problem Tree
• Objectives Tree
• Logical Framework
• Scope Management Plan [Work Breakdown Structure]
• Schedule Management Plan [Network Diagram, Critical Path Analysis & Work Plan]
• Cost Management Plan [Budget]
• Human Resource Management Plan [RACI chart & Organogram]

Background

Mashinani is a remote rural region where access to clean and safe drinking water is a daily struggle. The local community, comprising approximately 3,000 residents, primarily depends on unprotected and often contaminated water sources, such as rivers, ponds, and open wells. The absence of a reliable source of clean water poses severe health risks and contributes to the high incidence of waterborne diseases.

The community relies on subsistence farming as their primary source of livelihood. Additionally, women and children, often walking several miles a day to collect water, bear the brunt of the water scarcity issue. This situation has had significant impacts on education, as children, primarily girls, are frequently unable to attend school due to their responsibilities of water collection.

Public health statistics reveal an increased prevalence of child diarrhea in the last five years in Mashinani location which in turn has led to high child mortality and morbidity rates [under 5] in the community. Preliminary research results attribute the current situation to three main causes: the communal water source is contaminated, and there is poor sanitation and poor hygiene practices.

Possible scenarios contributing to child diarrhea are:

• People without proper sanitation facilities defecate in or near the communal water source. The water source is contaminated with feces.
• Animals defecate in or near the communal water source. The water source is contaminated with feces.
• Farmers use contaminated water to irrigate their crops.
• Crops (especially vegetables) irrigated with contaminated water are used to prepare meals.
• People use contaminated water for drinking and food preparation.
• Families eat and drink contaminated food and water.
• People prepare food with unwashed hands, contaminating the food.

Key facts on childhood diarrhea:

Diarrhea kills more children (11%) than malaria, measles, and AIDS combined (Lancet 2012). In low-income countries, children under three years old experience on average three episodes of diarrhea every year. Each episode deprives the child of the nutrition necessary for growth. As a result, diarrhea is a major cause of malnutrition, and malnourished children are more likely to fall ill from diarrhea. (World Health Organization)

Proposed Intervention

A local NGO has initiated a project to provide a sustainable and reliable source of clean water to the community. The project’s primary objective is to address the urgent need for safe drinking water, improve hygiene and sanitation, and alleviate the burden on women and children in collecting water.