Impact of European union micro-projects Programme in water and sanitation on rural communities of the Niger delta region of Nigeria

Abstract

Many studies in Nigeria have revealed that the Niger Delta Region is the least served in terms of basic infrastructure such as electricity, roads, water and sanitation. This study examined the impact of the European Union Micro-Projects Program in the rural areas of Imo State, in the heart of the Niger Delta Region. Five hundred and forty subjects were randomly selected and interviewed in 15 rural communities that benefited from water and sanitation projects between 2003 and 2007. Impacts were evaluated in the areas of water supply and sanitation in terms of quality, quantity, distance and time. Results showed considerable improvements in the quantity of water supply (62%), water quality and sanitation (49%), reduction in distance from water sources (87.1%), time for water collection (57.5%) and incidence in water-borne diseases (40.7%). The success recorded in this externally funded program resulted from many factors, of which the most important is the adoption of the participatory development model by the donor agency in project execution.

Key words: donor agency, micro-projects, participation, rural population, sanitation, water.