The objective of the project was to develop and test improved operational arrangements for safeguarding the quality of rural (non‐piped) water supplies in Lao PDR, within the framework of responsibilities of Nam Saat.

ICEM undertook the following activities:

• Reviewed existing arrangements (including guidelines, regulations, documents) for safeguarding drinking water quality in rural areas of Lao PDR based on a desk study, interviews with government and development agency stakeholders, and field visits with Nam Saat staff
• Identified lessons from regional experience via a desk study and a regional workshop including representatives from Cambodia and Vietnam, amongst other countries
• Developed and implemented a pilot project, provisionally in two districts, to develop, test and refine improved operational arrangements for the delivery of Nam Saat’s responsibilities in safeguarding drinking water quality.
  This included designing and running necessary training to support the pilot project. The operational model(s) developed was sustainable and replicable within the constraints of the human and financial resources available in most districts
• Documented the pilot project and resulting operational model(s) and disseminated the lessons learned via a national workshop
• Produced a Preliminary Report including findings from desk review, stakeholder consultation and regional workshop, plus detailed design of proposed pilot project, including training
• Produced a Final Report of recommended Operational System and outcomes of National Dissemination Workshop.