Current Situation
The total population of Ethiopia is about 70 million people with 85% of them living in rural areas. About 64% of the population lives at or below subsistence level. Health indicators demonstrate that Ethiopia has serious problems in the area of health care and disease prevention. Water and sanitation-related diseases, particularly diarrhea, are among the top three causes of death in the country. Only 11% of the rural population has access to safe drinking water, and many people survive on a strict ration of less than five liters of water per day. The impact of the water shortages is particularly severe for women and girls who are traditionally responsible for water collection. The sanitation situation in Ethiopia is even worse than that of water supply and a concerted effort is needed to address this major problem. Latrines are virtually unknown in rural communities; with only 7% of the rural population having access to basic sanitation. The work of Water 1st in Ethiopia is focused in the state of Oromia, West Showa zone, where less than 10% of the population has access to safe water and even fewer have access to improved sanitation.
2010 Projects:
- Under construction: Kelecho Gerbi water system with 8 community taps and hygiene education encouraging all households to build a toilet.
- People to be served: 4,085
Completed Projects:
- Ilamu Muja amd Bishikiltu water systems
- 7,743 people served
Water and Sanitation
The work funded by Water 1st in Ethiopia is unique, and we believe it will serve as a world-wide model for sustainable, community-managed water projects. In order to have a larger and more sustainable impact on the water, sanitation, health, natural resource and economy, our Ethiopian projects are part of a comprehensive master plan for each watershed.
The water projects involve several different water delivery technologies depending on the hydro-geology of the beneficiary community: spring-fed piped water systems to public water points or hand-pump systems. Individual households also construct pit latrines. Additional facilities include gender-specific showers, laundry-washing stations, and cattle troughs, so that boys no longer have to spend hours daily walking the cattle to watering holes.
Hygiene Education
Village hygiene communicators use a very effective model for latrine construction. Rather than constructing latrines at every household up-front, a “demand” for household latrines is created. First, model households for traditional pit latrine construction are selected. The remaining latrines are then constructed by the individual households through replication. Households receive training in how to construct latrines, and are given nails for construction as an incentive to building. Model latrines use only locally-available materials and generally no pre-constructed items, enhancing replication efforts.
Long-Term Operation and Maintenace
Households participating in the projects elect a water management board, comprised of equal numbers of men and women, which coordinates their activities with the local government administrative offices. Volunteer plumbers from the community are trained to operate and maintain the water system. Village hygiene communicators are trained to households about health and sanitation and the importance of clean water and latrines.
In completed projects, water use is metered and water users are billed for their actual water use. Although recognized as an important step in promoting efficient water use, metering is rarely achieved successfully in projects in developing nations. Our local partner organization works with the beneficiary communities to set up tight financial controls and accounts. Water bills cover all the costs needed for operating and maintaining the water system, including salaries for tap attendants and plumbers, as well as building up a savings account for system improvements and expansions, so that the projects are truly self-sustaining into the future.
Water Source Protection
The watershed management component is very comprehensive and involves tree-planting, soil erosion issues, and income-generating projects. The income-generating projects center around comprehensive land-use planning for livestock production, irrigation for vegetable-growing and sales of forestry products.
Ethiopia Background Information
Without doubt, Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest countries. In a recent United Nations report, Ethiopia is ranked 170th out of a total 177 countries included in the Human Development Index.
Women and girls spend hours every day collecting water from distant sources, and in addition are expected to cook, collect firewood, tend fields and care for the sick, many of whom are suffering from water and sanitation-related diseases. The time-intensive commitment to water collection often prevents women from participating in income-generating opportunities, or in the case of girls, prevents them attending school.
The sanitation situation in Ethiopia is even worse than that of water and a determined effort is needed to address this major problem.
The lack of access to safe drinking water and latrines places a heavy burden on children who are especially vulnerable to disease. Water-related illnesses are widespread, and as a result child mortality rates in Ethiopia are among the highest in the world. HIV/AIDS patients, who have compromised immune systems with limited resistance to opportunistic infections, are also particularly vulnerable. Repeated bouts of diarrhea are not only debilitating for the patients but also increase the burden on caregivers, family livelihoods, and ultimately the community.
The work of Water 1st is Ethiopia is focused on the West Showa zone where less than 10% of the population has access to safe water and even fewer have access to improved sanitation. |
