Our partners

WaterAid works in partnership with local NGOs and government departments in project implementation. WaterAid assists in building partners' capacities and capabilities so that in the long term they will be in a position to increase coverage and sustain the provision of clean water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion.

WaterAid's relationship with its partners is based on project funding, capacity building and institutional strengthening.

Today, WaterAid is working with these indigenous organisations and Regional Government Bureau:

Arba Minch University

Arba Minch University was founded on 1986. It is located in the southern nationalities and peoples region, Gamogofa zone. Arba Minch University aspires to be one of the leading higher educational institutions in the country and a center of excellence in the area of water resources in Eastern Africa. It has a mission of promoting democratic thinking; offering high quality education and training; conducting demand driven and problem solving; research and consultancy; and rendering community service in order to contribute to the development endeavors of the country. The main areas of programmatic work include quality and diversity of the academic programs and relevant research and wide coverage of consultancy. The reasons for partnership with WaterAid in Ethiopia is that the project (female capacity building) will serve as a good opportunity to initiate female students' assistance in different aspects and enhance the participation of females in the country's WASH program.

Bahir Dar University

Bahir Dar University was founded on 6 May 2000. It is located in Amhara National Regional State of Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda in Shume Abo Kebel.

Bahir Dar University has a vision to strive to become a reputable center of excellence and a premier research university across Africa recognised for its quality education and for its outstanding research and outreach activities in an academic community that people are proud to be a member of. Its mission is  to significantly contribute for the social, cultural, economic, political, scientific and technological  development of the nation; through the provision of high quality education to prepare knowledgeable, skilled, practical, intellectually inquisitive, democratic and problem solving graduates, and through active engagement in research activities  and address nation wide concerns by producing and transferring knowledge and technology and through facilitating outreach activities for better serving our community need, while offering our employees a more conducive and rewarding work environment that values, recognizes and appreciates their contributions.

The university's main areas of programmatic work include teaching, research and consultancy work. WaterAid Ethiopia has signed agreement with Bahir Dar University, Institute of Technology, school of Civil and Water Resources Engineering to implement a project on Learning and Communication in WASH in the Amhara Region.

Cheshire Foundation Action for Inclusion

Cheshire Foundation Action for Inclusion (CF-AI) was founded on 1985. It operates in Addis Ababa City Administration (Gulelle, Nifas Silk Lafto, Kolfe karaniyo and Lidata sub-city), Oromia Region (JImma and Agaro) and Amhara Region (Bahirdar and Dessie). It has a vision to see an inclusive society where disability is prevented and persons with disability are indiscriminately involved in the community development program.

It is committed to minimising the incidence of disability and improving the life of persons with disabilities in general, and children with disabilities in particular, through its community based disability prevention, rehabilitation and inclusion program activities in its current project areas. Its main areas of programmatic work include realising its vision and mission. CF-AI is actively engaged in three major program areas disability prevention, rehabilitation and inclusion. WaterAid in Ethiopia is partnered with CF-AI to focus on the urban poor.

Emmanuel Development Association (EDA)

Emmanuel Development Association (EDA) was founded on 21 August 1996. It is a local non-governmental organisation working in Addis Ababa and Amhara regions.

As a vision EDA aspires to see a just society in Ethiopia where the rights of disadvantaged children and women have been fulfilled and their basic needs met in an empowering manner. It's mission is to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of marginalised urban and rural communities, particularly children and young peoples, through the provision of education and empowerment initiatives. Major areas of programmatic work include Alternative Basic Education Program that focuses on the provision of access to basic education in urban and rural areas and the support of formal schools though capacity building so that they can provide quality education to their students.

As well as its programmatic work it also works on the Integrated Community Health program, including sanitation and hygiene related activities. To work on this and other programmatic activities EDA received funding from different partners, including WaterAid.

Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA)

Ethiopian Economic Association was founded on 29 November, 1991 with a vision to become the premier Economic Association in Africa renowned for its excellence in membership services and economic policy research" and with a mission to represent the professional interests of its members, advance the discipline of Economics and contribute to the development of the Ethiopian Economy.

EEA has been working in all regions with diverse institutions and currently has three regional chapters in Amhara region (BahirDar), SNNPR (in Hwassa) and Oromia (in Haromaya University). It has four programmatic areas of work are Macro economics, Trade and Industry, Poverty and Social Sector economics and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Currently EEA is working with WaterAid on a project entitled Spatial Equity in the Provision of Wash Services: Evidence from Selected Area Based Case Studies.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Inter Church Aid Commission (EOC/DICAC)

EOC/DICAC is the development commission of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. DICAC had been set up to implement relief, rehabilitation and development projects. Although water supply was one of the components in its development plan, it did not have the capacity to undertake that kind of work.

WaterAid Ethiopia saw DICAC as a potential partner and gave support for the establishment of a water unit. The unit is now playing a significant role in implementing water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion projects in the north and north west of the country through funding obtained from WaterAid and others.

Ethiopian Rainwater Harvesting Association (ERHA) 

Ethiopian Rainwater Harvesting Association (ERHA) was founded in December 1999 and registered on December 2001. It works in selected woredas of Gambella, Oromia, Somali Harare regions and Dire Dawa administration.

It was established with a vision  where Water and food security are ensured in Ethiopia for sustainable development and perpetuity of the livelihood citizens and with a  mission of promoting improved rainwater harvesting practices in Ethiopia through advocacy, networking, research, demonstration and capacity building.

ERHA has been working in collaboration with WaterAid in Ethiopia since 2005. WaterAid supported the organisation with institutional strengthening by budgetary support for building operational capacity; a small demonstration or pilot rain water harvesting (RWH) reservoir to address water supply and sanitation needs in schools; a baseline survey for the promotion of RWH in the Ethiopian Rift Valley areas; a case study on the potential role of RWH for domestic supply in the Rift Valley areas where most water sources are ridden with chemicals, notably fluoride content.

ERHA On-going collaborations with WaterAid includes scaling up sand dam in Eastern and Southern Ethiopia.

Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA)

Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) was founded on 27 October 2000 with a vision to see flourishing Ethiopians in particular and mankind in general living in harmony with wide array of biological diversity in healthy, productive, peaceful and attractive environment through its local actions and broader partnership and with a mission to create awareness and understanding on the need for the sustainable use and conservation of wetlands and other natural resources (forests, soil, water) in the watershed, as well as developing methods to achieve these conditions. It believes and strongly works towards ensuring that these resources can contribute to the nation's development to benefit the country's citizens without compromising the need and interest of the future generations. It works in Oromia, Amhara and SNNP regions. Main areas of programmatic work are Integrated natural resources management (watersheds, wetlands, soil and water resources, forests), provision of water supply, sanitation and hygiene services, Livelihoods promotion, diversification and improvement, Population-Health-Environment (HPE) Integration, Awareness raising, policy advocacy and support on wetlands and sustainable natural resources Management Recently EWNRA have established donor-implementer partnership with WAE with the project entitled "Action towards integrated water supply, sanitation, hygiene and water resource management in Keber Micro watershed Mettu Woreda, Oromia Regional State." In this partnership WAE is providing financial support and EWNR is implementing the project.

Hibreteseb Akef Limat Dirijit (HALD) 

With a vision to see disadvantaged social groups including children, young people, women, the elderly and people with impairments free from destitution to become dignified and responsible citizens who are capable of contributing to the development of their nation, Hibreteseb Akef Limat Dirijit (HALD) was founded on 1998. HALD's mission is improve and enhance the livelihood of disadvantaged social groups through appropriate interventions. 

HALD works in Amhara region North Shewa Zone, Kewot Woreda, Shewarobit city and Addis Ababa, Kolfe Keranio Sub-city, 06 Kebele. Its main  programmatic work includes working on HIV/AIDS, constructing youth resource centers and working on water, sanitation and hygiene promotion.

HALD and WaterAid's partnership started in 2008. Currently, HALD is implementing a water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion project in Shewarobit City with WaterAid financial assistance. HALD is trying its level best to implement water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities with the active involvement of the local government offices and the community, working on both the hardware (facility constructions) and the software (awareness raising) activities.

Integrated Holistic Approach and Urban Development Project (IHA/UDP)

Integrated Holistic Approach and Urban Development Project is one of WaterAid's urban partners that works in the slums of Addis. An Integrated Holistic Approach to Urban Development is based on the idea that any lasting improvement to peoples' lives must consider all of the problems in an area.

WaterAid Ethiopia started funding the water and sanitation elements of IHA/UDP's integrated programme in 1991.

Organisation for Relief and Development of Amhara (ORDA)

ORDA is a local NGO working in relief and development activities in the Amhara Region. ORDA's mission is to support the Amhara people in their efforts to become self reliant, through the promotion of sustainable rural development programmes based on the genuine participation of the people themselves. ORDA works mainly in remote and marginalised areas of Amhara Region.

WaterAid started by financing some ORDA projects and also supported them to implement integrated projects by assisting in the development of sanitation components in all their water supply projects.


Progynist

Progynist is a local NGO established to promote the welfare and contribution of Ethiopian Women to the political, socio-economic and environmental development and management of their country. Progynist believes that empowering women is strengthening civil society and a vital part of sustainable development.

WaterAid Ethiopia finances the water and sanitation component in their project and helps in developing the capacity of Progynist, especially in the integration of sanitation and hygiene promotion work in their water supply projects.


Regional Government Bureau

The Regional Government Bureau manage the government activities in every region. Our main partners in this respect are the Water, Mineral and Energy Resources Development Bureau and the Health Bureau. We have seconded staff, equipment and some financial contribution for major gravity schemes implemented in the region.

Before WaterAid started working through local NGOs, it used to work with the then Natural Resources Development Bureau, which is now called the Oromia Water, Mineral and Energy Resources Development Bureau.

RiPPLE

Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region (RiPPLE) is a five-year action research programme established in 2006 with the purpose of advancing evidence based learning on water supply and sanitation (WSS) financing, delivery and sustainability to improve equity of access for the poor in Ethiopia and the Nile region. Click here for more about RiPPLE.

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC)
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC) was founded on 1972 with a vision to see reconciled, just and prosperous society with a mission that is guided by EECMY's policy of 'Holistic Ministry'.  Thus, the EECMY/DASSC is committed to serving the whole person - addressing the physical, spiritual and social needs. The organisation works in all regions except Benishangul Gumuz 

Main areas of programmatic work include Food Security, Natural Resources Management and Conservation, Education, Gender and Development, Health, Water and Sanitation, Child and Youth Development, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.

EECMY-DASSC implements all projects directly through its structure in different parts of the country. DASSC works directly with target communities and also involves local government structure in the implementation. EECMY-DASSC Shared goal and Objectives in Water and Sanitation and established partnership with WaterAid Ethiopia to WASH projects.

Water Action 

WaterAid Ethiopia facilitated the setting up of a specialised sector NGO, Water Action, which become a legal entity in May 1995. Since then, on top of allocating core funding and delegating fund management and project implementation, WaterAid has invested substantially to build the capacity of Water Action.

Initially entirely dependent on WaterAid, Water Action is now attracting significant funding from non-WaterAid sources. It is one of the most respected NGOs in the water and sanitation sector in Ethiopia. Water Action mainly works in the south and south east of the country.

As well as working with our partners in Ethiopia WaterAid also works with the following organisations: