Enhancing Access to WASH Services in High Risk Cholera Communities in Africa

Malawi, Rwanda, Ghana

The overall goal of the project was to enhance access to sustainable, equitable and affordable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, and promote good hygiene practices in high-risk cholera districts in the Beneficiary Countries of Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda. This project formed part of the ambitious “One WASH initiative” of the IFRC through which it engaged with various financing institutions and governments to finance One WASH Programmes in 29 OIC member states aimed to impact the lives of 5 million people. The goal was planned to be achieved through strengthening and integrating the delivery of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) with health services, building upon well proven methodologies being practiced by the IFRC at grass roots level. Project Outputs: During the implementation period, the OPEC Fund funding in the three target countries attracted co-financing from the Danish Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, the Icelandic Red Cross, the Belgian Red Cross, the Italian government through IFRC and from cooperate organisations such as Nestle AS. Over 80,470 people were reached with safe water against a target of 42,500, 152,353 with increased access to adequate, equitable and safely managed sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion against a target of 97,500 and a further 1,872 volunteers and community members received trainings, mentoring and capacity building packages directly while 3,200 indirectly to support communities to sustainably manage water supply and sanitation against a target of 4,700. There was improved collaboration between the implementing Red Cross Societies of Malawi, Ghana and Rwanda with their authorities and agencies responsible for WASH services. The participatory approaches to community engagement, and capacity and skill enhancement has made a significant contribution to ensuring that the project outcomes are sustained over a longer term.