☰

Ethiopia

  1. Home
  2. Our Impact
  3. Where We Work
  4. Ethiopia

Ethiopia's water and sanitation crisis

62 million Ethiopians lack access to safe water and 97 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.

62 M Lack access to safe water

Ethiopia

Capital: Addis Ababa
Population of 105 million
97 million people lack access to improved sanitation
57% of the total population lives on less than $3.20 per day

Our 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 248,000 people with access to safe water and sanitation in Ethiopia.

Currently we are broadening our partnerships with likeminded organizations, including the Ethiopian government, and playing a leading role in formulating a finance working group. This group will advocate for policy changes for increased funding for water and sanitation loans, reaching more people in need across the country.

Ethiopia
Ethiopia

Water.org also collaborates 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.

  • Stories of Impact

    A smart decision for a smart solution

    A small, affordable loan made possible by Water.org empowered Alemtsenay and her husband to construct a bathroom for their family. Alemtsenay shared, “We will no longer be susceptible to diseases or such poor hygiene practices that cause sickness.”

    Read more
    Alemtsenay
  • Stories of Impact

    Safe water and pregnancy

    Grace’s baby was due to arrive any day. Grace lives in a small rural village several hours south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sixty-one million people lack access to safe water in her country. Read about how a small, affordable loan empowered Grace and her husband to give their young family safe water and a bright future.

    Read more
    Grace
See all Ethiopia stories

To help us reach more people in need of safe water and sanitation in Ethiopia, donate today.

Donate