Development Ratings

Pump Aid faces the challenge of expanding its project programme at sufficient pace to adequately use its incoming resources. Pump Aid has already trained sufficient voluntary pump builders for the scaling up of the programme, and new staff have been hired, and vehicles purchased.

By contrast, Pump Aid faces the challenge of raising sufficient unrestricted income to unlock the potential to use its restricted funding for the projected output. Its improving profile should help with this.

There is a risk of loss of quality control through rapid expansion and the training of NGOs to carry out the programme elsewhere. Monitoring of training will take place and certification will be implemented.

Zimbabwe presents security, inflation and currency risks. These can be partially mitigated by a supplies buffer, and appropriate purchase timing decisions. The buffer of temporary re-location of operations to Malawi became necessary in 2008 and ended up boosting the Malawi start-up.

Flooding can contaminate water tables and wells with bacteria and parasites. However, the sand filtering design and concrete coverings reduce this risk. Water quality is regularly monitored.

Pump Aid is working with NGOs in the water sector to exchange ideas and communicate cost-effective approaches. This reduces the potential risks of any competitive programme replication.