What we do
Working with partners
WaterAid does not implement projects directly; instead it works through partner organisations, both governmental and non-governmental, to help poor people who wish to improve their own lives.
The concept of self-help, whether physical construction or the management of the work by the people themselves, creates a sense of ownership and avoids dependency on WaterAid in the long term.
WaterAid builds relationships with its partners that allow both sides to learn and develop. By strengthening its partners, WaterAid can improve the chance of replication of WaterAid-funded work.
The aim is to help create a situation where indigenous organisations have the capacity to work effectively without WaterAid or others.
Integration
The provision of clean water alone brings about only minor health improvements. WaterAid therefore integrates hygiene promotion and sanitation work in all its projects in order to bring tangible health impacts.
Community development and participation
In order to promote sustainability, it is imperative that communities are mobilised and organised at the grass roots level.
They should also participate fully in managing and maintaining water supply schemes, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion to bring about behavioural change.
Objectives of community participation
The objectives of community participation are:
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Fostering empowerment
Participation involves joint planning and self analysis. Local people's knowledge and views are actively sought. Community members explain their priorities and identify available skills, resources and appropriate contributions to the project. This process motivates people to take action to bring about changes in their lives.
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Efficiency and effectiveness
The involvement of local people from the outset ensures that projects are more responsive to the communities' needs and abilities. It also means that costs can be shared between the community and WaterAid. Since people have put so much of their time, effort and savings into a scheme, they will be more determined to maintain it.
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Capacity building
Local people are trained to manage and maintain their water and sanitation services. Hygiene promoters are selected from the community and trained in order to raise awareness of basic water and sanitation issues within their community. Water committees are formed to ensure that tariff rates, spare parts and mechanical costs, as well as the quality and frequency of maintenance, are kept at a suitable level. Men and women are involved in decision making and receive equal training opportunities.
Where we operate in Ethiopia
Technologies
Follow this link to read more about the technologies used by WaterAid Ethiopia.
What we do
