59.8 million people don't have access to clean water.
59.8 million people don't have access to clean water.
That's half the population.
111.9 million people don't have a decent toilet.
111.9 million people don't have a decent toilet.
Less than 10% of people in Ethiopia have a decent toilet.
Over 9,000 children under five die each year from diarrhoea.
Over 9,000 children under five die each year from diarrhoea.
Caused by dirty water and poor toilets.
Our work in Ethiopia
We’ve been bringing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to communities, schools and health centres across Ethiopia since 1991.
We’re working to increase communities’ resilience to climate change, empower those in vulnerable situations who are often excluded, and strengthen the systems that deliver essential services – so the impact of our work is sustained long into the future.
And by working in partnership with others and influencing government policy, we make sure our knowledge is shared to reach even more people.
Reaching those who are often overlooked
We're determined to support change in even the most remote parts of Ethiopia.
Many of the communities we work with are so remote they can’t be reached by vehicle. Transporting materials, laying pipes and building pumps is a joint affair, with everyone – from village elders to young mothers – playing their part in bringing about change.
Deliver Life
Women and children in Derekwa used to spend hours each day collecting dirty water from a muddy spring – making them late for school, or keeping them from work. As the spring started to dry up, they had to dig deeper and deeper into the soil to reach water.
As part of the Deliver Life project, we worked with the community to install three water points in the village, and one in the primary school. Water is treated, then stored in an underground tank before being piped to taps via solar-powered pumps – so now, there’s always enough to go around.
We also helped establish voluntary committees to maintain the new facilities, so residents will continue to feel their impact, long after we leave.
Working in partnership
Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Yorkshire Water, who share their expertise and deliver specialist training, utilities managers like Leyew have the skills they need to deliver local water and sanitation services sustainably and effectively.
Creating change that lasts
Through the SusWASH (Sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programme, we’re strengthening the systems behind essential services – meaning the impact of our work will last long into the future.
Funded by the H&M Foundation, the programme also aims to make services more inclusive, ensuring all groups in society can benefit from access to improved water, hygiene and sanitation.
SusWASH in Ethiopia
We're supporting the government to deliver their One WASH National Plan in the Oromia region, by sharing our knowledge in coordination, planning, monitoring and budgeting with officials. We're also working with civil society organisations, helping people create community platforms and make their voices heard.
By supporting community-led initiatives, like interactive theatre performances, we're reaching thousands of people with essential hygiene messages, including the importance of handwashing and use of toilets.
Getting comfortable with periods
Across Ethiopia, we’re helping people talk about periods openly.
We’re working in schools to challenge stigmas, and making sure girls can manage their periods safely and with dignity – meaning they no longer have to miss days of invaluable education each month.
Responding to COVID-19
We’ve joined forces with other charities, the UN, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as part of the Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition (HBCC): a taskforce dedicated to reducing the spread of COVID-19 through improved hygiene, funded by UK Aid and supported by Unilever.
HBCC in Ethiopia
With so many people in Ethiopia lacking the clean water they need to practise good hygiene, COVID-19 is a real threat. As part of our work with the HBCC, we've distributed soap and built emergency water tanks in healthcare facilities and COVID-19 isolation centres, and worked with the government to roll out a national hygiene and sanitation behaviour change campaign.
The latest on our work in Ethiopia
Browse articles, insight and expert opinion from the WASH Matters blog.
Shaping East Africa’s sanitation solutions, for hygiene, education and resilience
Case studies from Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia show how communities and governments are working to overcome the twin challenges of urbanisation and climate change.
Sanitation in small towns: lessons from three successful projects
As the world urbanises rapidly, supporting small towns and cities to build their capacity to provide adequate WASH services is crucial to reaching everyone.
System strengthening for inclusive, sustainable WASH: experiences from SusWASH
Our report shares practical experiences, lessons and recommendations from the SusWASH programme in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Pakistan.
From commitments to action: what will it take to integrate WASH and nutrition in Ethiopia?
We investigate how to tackle the challenges of undernutrition and poor water, sanitation and hygiene, as evidence connecting the two grows.