Clean and Reliable Water Access

Description

Residents of a rural community in northwestern The Gambia face unreliable access to drinking water during the dry season. Soil erosion has exposed and damaged pipes connected to a strong borehole system, slowing water flow and preventing many households from maintaining dry season gardens that provide income and nutritious food. Leaking pipes have also damaged footpaths, and women and girls must walk farther and spend more time carrying water to meet household needs.

This project will address these urgent challenges by restoring fast, clean water. Grant funds will support pipe replacement and the construction of gabions to restore soil levels and protect the system from future erosion. Community members with technical expertise will share their knowledge as local residents take on all design and labor. A community water fund, supported monthly by each household, will help ensure future repairs.

Through interviews, town halls, and daily conversations, residents have voiced a strong need to resolve erosion and improve water access. Community leaders with technical experience have designed solutions informed by past successes repairing erosion and pipe damage. By improving roadways and drinking water systems, the project will strengthen local opportunities in agriculture, expand knowledge-sharing, and support long-term development. Thank you for your support.