USAID Ethiopia Water Activities, July 2014.
Water considerations cut across nearly every aspect of USAID programming. In addition to the need for drinking, for hygiene, and to deliver health care, water is needed to irrigate crops, feed livestock and develop industrial production. A dwindling supply of water is often a potential source of conflict. USAID incorporates water activities within its health, education, agriculture, governance, resilience and emergency assistance programs.
USAID also contributes to national capacity to plan and manage water resources through the Addis Ababa University program with the University of Connecticut.
Increase Prevalence of Key Hygiene Behaviors
USAID Ethiopia promotes three hygiene practices with the greatest demonstrated impact on health: (1) hand washing with soap at critical times, (2) safe disposal and management of excreta, and (3) improving household water storage, handling and treatment. In addition, community based approaches to behavior change, e.g., through health and agriculture extension services, support communities transitioning from open defecation. This includes working with a broad range of providers of hygiene products and services to provide household water treatment and storage technologies and other products to facilitate optimal hygiene behaviors
Increase Access to Sustainable Water Supply Services
- To accelerate access to water, USAID Ethiopia is helping to strengthen the ability of local governments to engage communities, mobilize financing for both system expansion and operations and maintenance, and oversee service providers. Support to water and sanitation entrepreneurs can increase coverage and generate income, particularly for those who have no alternatives.By focusing on capacity building and leveraging local partners, activities can minimize overreliance on donors and bolster lasting sustainability.
