MATAMA'S PROFILE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The influx of refugees from Mozambique to Malawi in the 1980`s witnessed a significant incoming and sprouting of local Non-governmental organisations in Malawi for humanitarian purposes. The emergence of indigenous non-governmental organisations was enhanced by the introduction of political pluralism in the form of multiparty dispensation in 1993. The Mineral and Appropriate Technology Applicable to Malawi (MATAMA) was born under these favourable conditions and got registered by Chimwemwe Chikusa in May 1997.
1.2 MATAMA is a national Non-governmental Organisation and a member of the Council for Non-governmental Organisations in Malawi (CONGOMA). Its mission is to contribute to the enhancement of Malawi’s socio-economic endeavours that result into sustainable improvement in the well-being of disadvantaged people especially rural and peri-urban populations, more so women, children and the needy, in general.
1.3 In order to achieve the above mission, MATAMA`s Constitution has the following main objectives:
For effective and smooth running of the MATAMA, there is a Board of Directors comprising
Practicing rural development experts, finance and business specialists, a lawyer, an environmentalist, and a Geologist. Decisions of the Board of Directors and or implementation of assignments are effected through a team of part time and full time experts (some part and full time CV’s attached).
Two part time management staff;
Four full time staff:
MATAMA is based in Lilongwe, Malawi, but operates in 3 specific areas namely: Lilongwe, Dowa and Mchinji.
ADDRESS P O Box 1620, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
TELEPHONE (265) 8 844 448, (265) 9 602 821
E-MAIL benjiechikusa@yahoo.co.uk
PHYSICAL ADDRESS Lilongwe City Assembly Offices, Lilongwe Town Hall, MALAWI.
2.0 MATAMA`S EXPERIENCE
Since its establishment in1997, MATAMA has carried out several activities for various development agencies and stakeholders in fulfillment of its stated mission. Most of the work has been in the rural water and sanitation sector: such as rural piped water feasibility assessments, hydrogeological and geophysical investigations for borehole siting, and community based management capacity building. Other significant activities include starter pack seed distribution, supervision of MASAF Community Roads construction, video film documentary production and radio programme management. Individual members in the NGO have vast added experiences including distribution of relief food, and research in various areas. All the NGO’s activities include cross cutting issues such as gender and HIV/AIDS. The following are summaries of some of these activities:
2.1 Chididi Gravity-Fed Piped Water Project
In the last quarter of 1997, UNICEF was about to abandon support for supplying of potable water to a hilly area (Chididi) in Nsanje District in the Southern Region of Malawi. This was because the technology (borehole) used was not applicable and or appropriate. MATAMA proposed an option of gravitating water from one or so of existing springs on the hill-top communities down hill through a piped water scheme. UNICEF got interested in the proposal and ultimately funded the project. MATAMA implemented the project and thus did Civil works, facilitated formation and training of community – based management committees in the operation and management of the scheme in collaboration with relevant Government Ministries.
The Chididi Gravity – Fed Piped Water Project was an appropriate alternative proposed and executed by MATAMA because ground water abstraction is not feasible in the area. Furthermore, besides initiation of the Project, MATAMA successfully assisted the Chididi Community, comprising of several villages and a Mission Centre, acquire their, otherwise would have been impossible, supply of portable water supply and relevant sanitation civil works. MATAMA worked with relevant Government Ministries for specialised support services. Documentation on video, of some activities, was also done.
The services included partner coordination (the office of the President and Cabinet through the District Commissioner, now Chief Executive; Community mobilisation (Ministry of Gender, Youth and Community Services); health and sanitation promotion trainings (Ministry of Health and Population); and environmental conservation (Ministry of Forestry and Environmental Affairs). Local structures and leadership were utilised for effective grass root project operations. From the very launch, the project was fully owned by the Chididi community. This was enhanced by empowering them through training in various skills and imparting relevant knowledge and attitudes for ensuring sustainability. In brief, MATAMA initiated and executed the Project with very significant success.
2.2 DOWA DISTRICT BOREHOLE PROVISION PROJECT
MATAMA was engaged in 1998 by Action Aid Malawi, to carry out hydrogeological and geophysical investigations for the siting of 30 boreholes in Dowa District in the Central Region of Malawi for possible new community-based water supply and sanitation projects. Through MATAMA’s expertise, the assignment was successfully implemented and thus 30 boreholes were strategically and properly sited.
2.3 MZIMBA DISTRICT FEASIBILITY STUDY
World Vision International saw the need for potable water supply in Mzimba District, however they were not certain as to what technology that would be most appropriate. Therefore the need for a study in this respect was realised. Consequently MATAMA was commissioned to undertake the study in 1999 by World Vision International. The assignment involved conducting hydrogeological assessments to determine the feasibility of providing either boreholes or gravity-fed piped water technology for rural water supply in a defined project area in Mzimba District in the Northern Region of Malawi. The assignment was very successfully executed by MATAMA and World Vision International, the Client, was very satisfied with MATAMA’s report.
2.4 WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT
Between mid-1997 and early 1998, MATAMA carried out a scientific research in removing carbonate blockages in UpVC pipes of the Chipoka Rural Piped Water Project in Salima district with financial support from World Vision International. In this assignment, MATAMA worked in collaboration with the University of Malawi, Department of Geological Survey and Ministry of Water development. At the time of the assessment, over 9000 people in the Chipoka area were benefiting from the Project. It was hoped that the findings of the research would further the chances of increasing accessibility of potable water in all the areas intended to be supplied by the Project. Documentation of some of the activities was also done on video.
2.5 Mmangeni Village Community Based Environmental Project
MATAMA worked with the Mmangeni Community in Mdeka Area in Blantyre District to build capacity in afforestation, with the aim of preventing desertification. This was in 1998-99 period. The Project included leadership training in project management for community leaders and the Main Project Committee, training in afforestation and organic briquette making, cross cutting issues of Gender & HIV/ Aids and information dissemination through a project brochure and video. It also experimented on several parameters for sustainability of such a demand responsive environmental community based project.
2.6 District Water and Sanitation Assessments
Ministry of Water Development had required information on status of water and sanitation services in Phalombe, Thyolo and Karonga Districts for planning purposes. Willy and Partners Engineering Consultants were awarded the assignment who in turn engaged MATAMA to provide support in this district water and sanitation assessments. This included consultations with communities and government Officials on the status and enumeration of water supply and sanitation facilities.
Important to mention that our Project Manager (Mr Chikusa) lead the team in the Water Sector which designed the Terms of References which all the partners were to use for District Assessments (both technical and socio-economic).
The assignment was successfully undertaken and both Willy and Partners Engineering Consultants and the Ministry of Water Development were satisfied with MATAMA’s report.
2.7 Starter Pack Seed Distribution
MATAMA was engaged as one of the institutions, which distributed starter-pack for the cropping season 2000-2001 period. This was done successfully.
2.8 MASAF CBM Crush Programme
Carried out a crush Programme for facilitating CBM training for 187 borehole Committees in Liwonde, Mangochi and Machinga. This was a pilot for MASAF in assigning an NGO to carry out all the assignment management as a model for MASAF II (Early 2003).
2.9 Lilongwe City Peri-urban Community Water Sanitation Project
MATAMA is currently carrying out third phase of the Water and Sanitation Project for the Senti and Chimoka Communities in part of the Lilongwe City Peri-urban Areas, with funding from the USA based Water for People. The first phase was water sanitation capacity building in 2001-2002. The second was Lilongwe Citywide peri-urban water and sanitation rapid assessment (2002-03). The third was potable water supply through construction of 3 public water kiosks from the Lilongwe Water Board. Other organizations also joined in the efforts (e.g., WHO through the City Assembly and UNICEF). The main objective of all these 3 phases was to prevent water-borne diseases, especially cholera. For the first time, the people were free from Cholera during both 2004 and 2005 rainy seasons. In 2005, a Demonstration project was launched to promote sanitation through improved toilets, and provide a learning ground for the interested. This started with a revealing baseline survey.
2.10 COMWASH FSP and ASP Project implementation
Through Salephera Consulting LTD, MATAMA’s field staff of 10 technicians are implementing ASP and FSP component of the Phalombe Major Piped Water Project including PHAST and utilisation of various participatory methodologies. This is under the CIDA funded COMWASH Project.
2.11 Representatives of the Institute of Water Sanitation Development.
2.12 Information Dissemination
MATAMA has been involved in the various forms of information dissemination technologies. The following are some of the initiatives done;
MATAMA has strategic technical alliances with four technical films, namely;
2.15 Strategic Growth
MATAMA’s operates as a typical NGO whose human capacity grows or shrinks depending on the prevailing workload. An example is the months of July to October, in 2003, when apart from the four full time workers, there were 9 Water Technicians seconded to Salephera Consulting Film for a COMWASH assignment. The MATAMA Core Team of four remains operational on full time basis.