Reinforcing woreda WASH service delivery capacity

SNV in Ethiopia facilitates dialogue around critical WASH issues and provides contextual expertise and extended access to the local networks...

Yalem zeref Ayalew, an active member of Gonda village Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCo) – a structure embedded to sustain appropriate WASH services and extend access to safe Water supplies, Sanitation and Hygiene – lives in Amhara region, West Gojjam zone Bure Zuria woreda.

A mother of four, Yalem zeref, used to travel three to four hours to fetch water from an unprotected spring. "Although, we have started to get water from a hand pump, from 2011, it was not safe for drinking. During the community facilitation meeting with GLoWS trainees, we learnt that insects and wastewater entering through cement cracks polluted our water well. Following this, the woreda water office, WASHCo and the community jointly solved the problem" said Yalem zeref.

Guided Learning on Water and Sanitation (GLoWS), a training approach, builds on the globally tested adult learning techniques, and involves local stakeholders in practical problem solving. SNV and its partners have developed a set of modules addressing key WASH issues in rural communities and made the modules available for trainees to use for self-learning. Netherlands-UNICEF WASH Initiative, particularly in Woreda, is building the capacity of government WASH staff through various capacity development tools including GLoWS.

"SNV in Ethiopia provides GLOWS TOT for regional and zonal WASH staffs; and GLOWS training for Woreda WASH staff and private sectors (artisans) to develop government WASH service management systems. The trained WASH staff and artisans in turn provide trainings to WASHCOs and the community in order to enhance the local WASH services management systems and ensure sustained WASH service at the community level” said Habtamu Alebachew,  SNV WASH Advisor in the Amhara region.

Yalem zeref is one of the WASHCO members with a secretary role of the Gonda village hand pump water scheme. This Committee coordinates the cost recovery for operation and maintenance, protection and overall management of the hand pump. The members have managed to collect ETB 2564 since 2011 for the purpose. After the introduction of GLoWS in 2013, the contribution has become a regular activity. The improved community level management has increased their access to safe and clean water, reduced the burden of fetching water from the community particularly for the women and children who are usually held responsible.

Yalem zeref added, "Following the meeting with the GLoWS trainees, Woreda water offices, WASHCo and the community  have divided roles and responsibilities; and developed short and long term plan. We are jointly working to fulfil our respective roles and responsibilities. The process has also helped us become more responsible and build a sense of ownership for our water scheme.  We are now getting clean water.”

Netherlands-UNICEF WASH Initiative (NUWI II), a three-year project designed to respond to the combined risks of chronic malnutrition and poor access to both WASH services and water for local productive purposes, is enhancing government WASH services delivery system. More specifically, the project focuses on community based WASH interventions to promote Multiple Use of Water and Sanitation Services (MUS).

SNV in Ethiopia facilitates dialogue around critical WASH issues and provides contextual expertise and extended access to the local networks needed to achieve meaningful and sustained WASH services.