Welthungerhilfe (WHH), a dedicated partner in Ethiopia’s development efforts for over 50 years, has successfully implemented a comprehensive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program in the Amhara region. This initiative integrates water supply with food security, nutrition, and climate resilience, leveraging solar-powered water systems, community-led sanitation initiatives, and sanitation promotion to ensure sustainable and resilient WASH services.
The project’s success is attributed to strong local ownership and community engagement. The Amhara Regional Treasury contributed 5%, while the community provided 6% of the funding, demonstrating a deep commitment to the initiative. Yousaf Jogezai, WHH’s Regional Representative for the Horn of Africa, highlighted the critical role of community involvement and government partnerships in the project’s achievements.
“The main achievement is community involvement, ownership, contribution, and even financial contribution,” Jogezai emphasized. “They are the leaders. Our role is simply to support them.” This community-focused approach was facilitated through close collaboration with the Amhara Regional Water and Energy Bureau and the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Welthungerhilfe plans to share its experiences, lessons learned, and best practices with other stakeholders to encourage the replication and expansion of this initiative across Ethiopia. Recognizing the interconnectedness of water, nutrition, health, and agriculture, the organization worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Health, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Despite the project’s success, Jogezai identified a critical challenge: securing funding. “The main challenge is getting funding,” he noted, acknowledging the trend of global aid cuts. To address this, Welthungerhilfe is actively seeking alternative funding sources and engaging with the private sector in Germany and internationally to ensure continued support for vulnerable populations.
The Amhara Regional Water Project serves as a strong testament to the potential of community-based development and strategic partnerships to bring about meaningful change. However, access to sustainable funding is crucial to replicating the impact and ensuring that no one is left behind. As WHH continues to navigate these challenges, its commitment to community-led initiatives remains unwavering, offering a model for effective development that can be scaled across Ethiopia and beyond.
