Our role

Building on our strengths: 

In the last three decades, WaterAid Ethiopia has been among few not-for-profit global organisations that focuses on sustainable and safe WASH in the country. We have established good relationships with communities, the Government, and CSOs and played strategic role in developing WASH related policies such as Water Policy and Strategy, CR WASH Framework, WASH and Environmental Health Strategy, School WASH Strategy and Implementation Guide, TSEDU Ethiopia Initiative, and National HH4A Roadmap. We have also spearheaded the development of service delivery and management models, introduced technology options, piloting gender responsive and climate resilient WASH, providing technical support to the Government on WASH, implemented systems strengthening as a way of working, and promoted the integration of WASH with other sectors through our programmes and policy works (e.g., health, education, climate). 

Our niche in the WASH sector consists of demonstrating sustainable service delivery and management models (e.g., rural multi-village systems, utilities governance, professionalizing the WASH services management, etc), introducing WASH systems strengthening ways of working to the sector, implementing the woreda-wide and city-wide approaches (e.g., Sustainable WASH Project, Agenda for Change, the 20 Towns Urban WASH Capacity Strengthening Project, strengthening WASH services in healthcare facilities and schools, etc), development of the WASH Strategic Plan, and the establishment of a Management Information System for WASH. 

Moreover, our work has made a significant contribution to climate change actions (e.g., piloting climate resilient WASH services and sharing lessons, and watershed management and restoration to improve water availability).

The outcome of the previous Country Programme Strategy evaluation confirmed among others that, WAE is a pioneer actor in advancing the WASH agenda at policy and implementation levels, introduced eco-friendly solar technologies, and piloted multi-village rural pipe water systems and management models. The review also witnessed that it has enhanced the utility management capacity and improved service provision and sustainability of WASH services through the 20 Towns Urban WASH Capacity Building Programme and considers WASH as a system. In due course, WAE has developed a strong technical capacity and a wide range of skill sets to demonstrate, innovate, and provide support to the Government, communities, and other WASH and climate resilience actors for effective delivery of WASH programs. 

As a result of our WASH interventions and engagements, we have drawn the following key lessons:  

Strengthening WASH systems is key for sustainability of services: Challenges to sustainability of WASH facilities are not because of weaknesses of any single factor, rather the collective effect of all the actors (people and institutions), factors (social, economic, political, environmental, technological) and the interactions between them. We also learned that strengthening systems requires strong Government commitment, partnership and collaboration among actors and takes time to draw lessons. 

Gender inequality and social exclusion must be addressed purposely: We learned that it is indispensable to prioritize gender responsive WASH programmes and policy discourses, listen to and consider the voices of women and girls, engage men and boys, and address disparities with a specific focus on gender equality and social inclusion.

Impacts of climate change deserve due attention: We learned that developing models for climate resilient WASH for scalability and enhancing the influencing work for better alignment of climate change in WASH sector policies, programmes, plans, and budgets and vice versa are key since climate change risks all WASH gains. 

Innovation, appropriate technology, and effective management model are key to sustainable WASH services: The use of solar power technologies and effective management models enhance WASH service sustainability. We learned the need to collect, adopt and test innovations focusing on areas of particular importance, such as improving sustainability, inclusivity, resilience etc.  

Partnerships and alliances: Working with partners and alliances ranging from CSOs, rights holder groups, people with disability organizations, women’s groups and the private sector is key to achieve inclusive, sustainable, and safe services, and for learning, sharing, and collective influencing. 

Our future contribution:

Through this strategy, we will build on the foundations we laid and the unique comparative advantages we demonstrated in developing inclusive, sustainable, safe, and resilient service delivery and management models, and capacity strengthening works. The strategy stands on our strong reputation, competent, and innovative excellence that we developed over time. We will endeavour to bring transformative change in the strategy years through strengthening WASH systems. 

We are committed to further deepen our service delivery and capacity strengthening and enhance our work on gender equality and social inclusion, and youth and community engagement in WASH programmes. We will also strengthen our woreda and town wide approaches, promote action research, and pilot innovative technologies and approaches for wider use. 

We will prioritize developing sustainable service delivery and effective management models, and behavioural change approaches that others can adapt to achieve sustainable and inclusive WASH services. All initiatives under this strategy will engage women, girls, youth, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

We will foster partnerships and alliances with the Government, donors, research institutions, the private sector, academia, rights holder’s and networks to replicate best practices and support to strengthen coordination mechanisms in the WASH sector. We will also build our own technical skills and capabilities to provide professional and technical assistance to relevant Government offices, service providers, communities and other WASH actors. 

In the strategy period, WAE will be known for demonstrating innovative technologies and approaches, piloting sustainable service delivery and effective management models for inclusive, sustainable, safe, and climate resilient services, and influencing work to their replication which will accelerate actions towards universal WASH access. Learning, sharing and dissemination platforms will form an important part of our work as we seek to promote adoption of proven solutions by others in the wider sector to reach those beyond our geographic area of focus.