Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme in Benishangul-Gumuz Region (FinnWASH-BG)

The programme was initiated with a 15 months planning phase to develop preparation activities, with a sequel to the programme implementation phase, both carried out by Niras-ORGUT JV. The main objective was to help the Government of Ethiopia to achieve its Universal Access Program goals in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region by building the overall capacity of public, private and civil society implementing partners to plan, implement and manage a harmonized and sustainable rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene programme.

The main purpose was to increase capacity in the Region to plan and manage the integrated and harmonised water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme, using CDF as a strategic funding mechanism for community empowerment. The results were:

• Institutionalised community capacity to construct and maintain community managed water supply and adopt appropriate technologies and behaviors related to sanitation and hygiene sustainably;
• CDF mechanism to finance WASH investments;
• Institutionalised capacity at woreda level to support communities in implementing WASH activities, including reinvestment, and
• Institutionalised capacity at zonal level to support WASH activities and replicate CDF approach.

To manage the implementation of the programme, part of the team (the Management Advisor/ Team Leader, the GIS and Data Base Specialist and the Accounting Advisor) were based in the region capital Assosa, while the rest of the team (the Water Supply Specialist and the 3 Field Advisors) were based in Metekel Zone, close to the five programme woredas: Bullen, Dibate, Mandura, Wombera and Pawe Special Woreda.

To manage the implementation of the programme, part of the team (the Management Advisor/ Team Leader, the GIS and Data Base Specialist and the Accounting Advisor) were based in the region capital Assosa, while the rest of the team (the Water Supply Specialist and the 3 Field Advisors) were based in Metekel Zone, close to the five programme woredas: Bullen, Dibate, Mandura, Wombera and Pawe Special Woreda.

In July 2013 the project was extended for two years. The main objectives of the extension were:

• To extend water supply and sanitation coverage to peripheral areas;
• To extend water supply and sanitation coverage to all primary schools and health institutions;
• To institutionalize the spare parts supply system;
• To fully train and equip the Ali Spring and medium scheme management bodies;
• To complete rehabilitation of Ali Spring system;
• To scale up sanitation coverage through CLTS approach;
• To scale up involvement of women in hand pump maintenance;
• To improve the monitoring and reporting system and replicate it at national level (COWASH);
• To kick start the COWASH in two new Woredas in Benishangul Gumuz Region.