Financial Cost Management and Sustainability of Rehabilitated Community Water Distribution Projects in Wau County, South Sudan

Abstract

Community water management committee with constituted Bylaws formed to manage the water system as part of sustainability of rehabilitated community water distribution projects in the County. Despite the intervention by community water management committee and ICRI community water distribution projects in Wau County still experience problems related to short lifecycle, negative outcome demonstrated by increased cases of water borne diseases since people are forced to use untreated stream water, long distance walk to fetch water among the people as well as expression of dissatisfaction among the beneficiaries. Currently, the community has taken the initiative of managing the water kiosks. The purpose of the study was to investigate financial cost management and sustainability of rehabilitated community water distribution projects in Wau County, South Sudan. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of cost estimation, budgeting abd cost control on sustainability of rehabilitated community water distribution projects of Wau County, South Sudan. Transaction Cost Economics and inter-organizational management control, Community Asset Based Model of Development and Sustainable Water Aid theories were applied in this study. Descriptive research designs supported by quantitative and qualitative data collection approach were used in the study. Quantitative data was gathered from a sample of 42 out of a target of 42 community water management committee persons purposive and census sampling technique using a selfadministered questionnaire while qualitative data was collected from 6 chairpersons of the 6 rehabilitated community water distribution project committees using a face to face interview guide. Quantitative data for the objectives were presented using mean and standard deviation. To determine the influence of the dependent variable indicators towards the dependent, the researcher will plot a linear regression table. The qualitative data from key informant was analyzed using thematic analysis or narration approach. The study established that cost estimation, budgeting and cost control had a positive and significant influence on sustainability of rehabilitated community water distribution projects of Wau County, South Sudan. On cost estimation, the study concluded that cost estimation enables project managers to set clear expectations with stakeholders. On budgeting, the study concluded that budgeting outlines the financial resources available, which further determines the human resources that are required. On cost control, the study concluded that controlling costs lowers the overall expenses in an organization. On cost estimation, the study recommended that project managers should identify resources that are required, the price of each resource, duration that each resource is required, list of assumptions, potential risks, past project costs and industry benchmarks, if any and insight into the organization’s financial health and reporting structures. On budgeting, the study recommended that the project budget should consider cost planning in terms of labour costs, material costs and operating costs. On cost control, the study recommended that the project manager should plan for the project budget to help for all payments that need to be made and costs that will incur during the project life cycle.