Afia Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (Afia WASH)
Expanding Gender-transformative Sustainable Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Challenge
Despite significant donor investment in the South Sudanese WASH sector, only 41% of South Sudanese had gained access to basic drinking water and 11% to basic sanitation, and 63% of the population was still practicing open defecation. In the project’s 13 target South Sudan counties, the conditions were even more dire, with greater than 80% of households lacking latrines and less than 35% of the population having access to clean water. This unsafe or inadequate access to sustainable WASH services negatively affected public health and related development indicators.
Approach
Afia WASH sought to expand sustainable access to basic safe drinking water and basic sanitation coverage and increase uptake of key hygiene behaviors to improve health and household resilience. Specific objectives were to:
1) Strengthen sub-national and private WASH sector coordination and management.
2) Strengthen inclusive, resilient WASH service delivery.
3) Foster adoption of key WASH behaviors and address harmful gender norms relevant to WASH.
The Activity worked with sub-national government, communities, and private sector partners to sequence and layer activities while engaging a robust network of partners and stakeholders. Interventions included baseline assessments and thorough research to develop tailored, sustainable approaches for capacity building and infrastructure construction/rehabilitation.
Goals and Results
- Constructed and/or rehabilitated water supply structures, providing basic water access to over 11,000 people. Structures served health facilities and schools, providing community access to basic drinking water services.
- Helped communities prepare for long term operations and maintenance (O&M) of water points, including private sector participation.
- Conducted public awareness campaigns focused on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and distributed dignity kits to women and girls.
- Initiated Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) activities, which included certification of 63 villages.
- Held joint sector reviews and private sector engagement events to mobilize water users and form WASH management committees (WMCs).
- Increased women serving in leadership positions on WASH management.