TIME BANKING FOR WASH SERVICES

1)CONCEPT EXPLANATION

Time banking is a system where individuals exchange services based on time spent rather than monetary payment. In a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) context, community members can earn time credits by contributing to WASH-related activities. These credits can then be exchanged for WASH services or other community benefits. Example:?One hour of cleaning a water tank is equivalent to one hour of plumbing services, ensuring fairness in exchanges.

2)ECONOMIC CONTEXTUALIZATION

By leveraging the concept of time as a currency, time banking offers a unique solution to address WASH challenges in resource-constrained communities.

a.???? Time as Currency: Time banking treats time as a universal currency, allowing equitable exchange of services regardless of financial status. It draws on principles of mutual aid and cooperative economies.

b.???? Resource Efficiency: Time banking leverages underutilized human resources within communities, maximizing productivity without additional financial burden. It reduces dependency on external funding for routine WASH activities, enhancing local self-sufficiency.

3)HOW IT WORKS IN WASH SERVICES

To effectively engage community members in WASH initiatives, a time-based incentive system can be implemented. This innovative approach encourages active participation by recognizing and rewarding time contributions towards improving water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

a.???? Time Contribution: Community members can actively contribute to WASH initiatives by volunteering their time for various activities. These contributions can include:

·??? Infrastructure Maintenance:?Participating in the upkeep of water supply systems, such as repairing leaks, cleaning water tanks, and maintaining pumps.

·??? Sanitation Drives:?Engaging in community clean-up efforts, including cleaning public toilets, clearing drains, and removing solid waste.

·??? Hygiene Education:?Conducting awareness campaigns, workshops, and demonstrations to promote good hygiene practices, such as regular handwashing and proper sanitation.

·??? Water Quality Monitoring:?Collecting water samples, testing for contaminants, and reporting findings to relevant authorities.

·??? Issue Reporting:?Identifying and reporting issues related to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, such as water shortages, pipe bursts, and faulty sanitation facilities.

b.???? Earning Time Credits: For each hour of service, participants earn credits recorded in a time bank system. For each reporting issue participants earn equivalent credits. Credits are tracked using a digital platform or community-led registry.

4)AREAS FOR REDEEMING TIME CREDITS IN WASH SERVICES

In a time bank system, community members earn credits by contributing their time and skills to various WASH activities. These earned credits can be redeemed for a wide range of WASH services, significantly enhancing access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. By incentivizing community participation and rewarding contributions, time banking promotes a sense of ownership and empowers individuals to improve their living conditions.

·?????? Reduced Water Tariffs: Households can use time credits to offset or reduce their monthly water bills, making services more affordable.

·?????? Access to Technical Support: Credits can be redeemed for plumbing, electrical, or mechanical repairs related to water systems and sanitation facilities.

·?????? Hygiene and Sanitation Products: Community members can exchange credits for essential items like soaps, disinfectants, sanitary pads, and cleaning supplies.

·?????? Water Storage and Treatment Solutions: Credits can be used to purchase or rent water storage tanks, filters, or purifiers for households.

·?????? Priority Access to Water and Sanitation Facilities: Earned credits may grant priority usage of public water points, toilets, or bathing facilities, especially during peak hours.

·?????? Training and Capacity Building: Credits can be used to attend workshops, technical training, or certification programs on WASH-related topics (e.g., plumbing, water management).

·?????? Participation in Community Development Projects: Members can invest credits in community-led projects, such as constructing new wells, building sanitation blocks, or enhancing drainage systems.

·?????? Emergency Water Supply and Services: During water shortages or crises, credits can provide access to emergency water distribution or mobile sanitation units.

·?????? Health and Hygiene Awareness Programs: Credits can secure participation in health camps, hygiene education sessions, or counselling services focused on disease prevention.

5)INSTITUTIONS

?WUSC or financial institutions in the locality can serve as time bank, facilitating the exchange of time credits. These institutions can maintain records of credits earned and redeemed, ensuring transparency and accountability. By acting as intermediaries, they can help match service providers with those in need, streamline the process of credit exchange, and promote the growth and sustainability of the time banking system within the community.

?Water User and Sanitation Committees (WUSCs)

a.???? Role:?WUSCs can integrate time banking into their existing responsibilities for managing water and sanitation services.

b.???? Advantages:

·?????? Direct involvement in WASH service delivery.

·?????? Existing governance structures.

?Local Cooperatives

a.???? Role:?WASH cooperatives or other local cooperatives can serve as the bank, pooling resources and managing the credit system.

b.???? Advantages:

·?????? Cooperative models promote shared ownership and decision-making.

·?????? Financial and administrative capacity.

6) IMPLEMENTATION STEPS

a.???? Community Mobilization and Awareness:

·?????? Educate community members on the concept of time banking.

·?????? Hold workshops to explain benefits, rules, and potential activities.

b.???? Establishing a Time Bank System:

·?????? Create a simple record-keeping system (manual or digital) to track time credits.

·?????? Appoint local coordinators to oversee time banking operations.

c.????? Defining Eligible Activities and Services:

·?????? List activities eligible for earning credits (e.g., water testing, sanitation maintenance).

·?????? Identify services that can be accessed using time credits (e.g., repairs, reduced bills).

d.???? Monitoring and Evaluation:

·?????? Regularly review participation and impact.

·?????? Gather feedback to improve processes and ensure fairness.

7) REDEEMING REWARDS: A COMPLEX TASK

?While credit redemption for other services like plumbing, reducing tariff or water testing is relatively straightforward, the exchange of time for hygiene and sanitation products and ?redemption of issues reporting presents a unique challenge.

a.???? Time Credits for hygiene and sanitation products

To address this, a system can be implemented where community members can use their earned time credits to purchase these products at a designated store or distribution point. The time bank, in collaboration with local businesses or organizations, can negotiate special rates or discounts for time credit holders. This approach not only ensures equitable access to essential hygiene products but also stimulates local economies.

For Water User and Sanitation Committees (WUSCs) to supply hygiene and sanitation products in exchange for time credits, they need to establish a supply chain and management system. Below is a practical framework:

i.??????? Establish Partnerships with Suppliers

·?????? Collaboration with Local Vendors: WUSCs can partner with local shops, wholesalers, or cooperatives to procure essential items like soaps, disinfectants, sanitary pads, and cleaning supplies at discounted rates.

·?????? Engagement with Manufacturers and NGOs: Collaborate with manufacturers or NGOs that produce or distribute hygiene products as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) or development programs.

ii.?????? Create a WASH Product Fund

·?????? Revenue Allocation: Use a portion of user fees collected from water and sanitation services to maintain a revolving fund specifically for purchasing hygiene products.

·?????? Time Credit Valuation: Assign a fixed value to time credits, which can be used to "purchase" items from the WUSC’s stockpile of hygiene products.

iii.????? Stock and Distribution Management

·?????? Community Store: Establish a small community-managed store or depot where hygiene products are stocked.

·?????? Scheduled Distribution: Organize regular distribution events (monthly or quarterly) where members can redeem time credits for products.

·?????? Pre-Orders: Allow community members to place pre-orders using time credits to ensure product availability and reduce wastage.

iv.????? Leveraging Local Production

·?????? Encourage Community Production: Support local entrepreneurs or cooperatives to produce items like soaps or reusable sanitary pads.

v.?????? Accessing Government and Donor Support

·?????? Public Health Programs: Collaborate with local government health departments to access hygiene kits distributed under public health initiatives.

·?????? Grants and Donations: Apply for grants from donors or international organizations that support WASH initiatives.

vi.????? Digital Tracking and Redemption

·?????? Time Credit System: Use a simple digital platform or manual ledger to track time credits and redemptions.

·?????? Coupons or Vouchers: Issue vouchers equivalent to time credits, which community members can exchange for products at partner stores or WUSC outlets.

b.??? Turning Citizen Reporting into a Rewarding Experience

To incentivize community members to report issues effectively, a points-based system can be introduced. This system would assign different point values to various types of issues, considering their potential impact on public health and infrastructure. For instance:

·?????? High-Risk Issues:?Critical issues like water contamination, major pipeline breaks, or outbreaks of waterborne diseases could be assigned higher point values.

·?????? Medium-Risk Issues:?Issues such as minor leaks, clogged drains, or faulty water meters could be assigned moderate point values.

·?????? Low-Risk Issues:?Issues like slow water flow or minor aesthetic concerns could be assigned lower point values.

Once a sufficient number of points have been accumulated, community members can redeem them for various rewards.

8)CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, time banking provides a powerful framework for mobilizing community resources and addressing WASH challenges. By recognizing and rewarding time contributions, this innovative approach promotes a sense of ownership, equity, and sustainability. As communities hold time banking, they can unlock the potential of their collective efforts, ensuring access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and improved hygiene for all.