Ethiopia
Ethiopia's water and sanitation crisis
33 million Ethiopians lack access to an improved water source and 89 million lack access to improved sanitation. Of those who lack access to improved sanitation, a staggering 23 million practice open defecation.
In rural Ethiopia, a Water.org survey found that many women and children walk more than three hours to collect water, often from shallow wells or unprotected ponds they share with animals. Recurring droughts result in famine, food shortages, and water-related diseases, as people are forced to rely heavily on contaminated or stagnant water sources.
In Ethiopia and around the world, people are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and millions are striving to endure this crisis with an added challenge. They lack access to life’s most critical resource – water. Now more than ever access to safe water is critical to the health of families in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia
Capital: Addis AbabaOur impact in Ethiopia
Water.org has a strong history of implementing water projects in Ethiopia. Water.org started partnering with regional non-governmental organizations in 2004 and reached 180,000 people with improved water and sanitation access through these community partnerships. In 2015 we began piloting lending for water and sanitation with microfinance institutions.
To date we've reached more than 256,000 people with access to safe water and sanitation in Ethiopia.
Water.org collaborated with government ministries and other development partners in Ethiopia to influence government policy for microfinancing. The first comprehensive water and sanitation policy in Ethiopia, the One WASH National Programme, included a single sentence about the value of microfinance lending for water and sanitation. This was not enough to incentivize widespread lending across the country. As the next phase of the policy was developed, Water.org, along with others, helped develop recommendations that outlined more comprehensive financing strategies and increased microfinance lending for water and sanitation.
To help us reach more people in need of safe water and sanitation in Ethiopia, donate today.
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