Project profile — Improving Women-Led Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Healthy Homes

This project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of 77,348 women, girls, men, and boys in eight districts of Abeshege and eight districts of Woliso in Ethiopia. Project activities include: (1) conducting formative research in project areas to identify and prioritize motives for key healthy household behaviours; (2) conducting behavior change campaigns, education, training, and awareness-raising; (3) empowering women health practitioners with relevant knowledge and skills; (4) providing training to key influential community, religious, political and traditional leaders on healthy water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices; (5) providing skills and development training to women health extension workers, community health agents, and members of the women’s development army; and (6) hosting marketing campaigns for WASH projects and services.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased participation by women and men in gender-responsive, healthy household practices and decision making; (2) increased access to inclusive, gender-responsive WASH products in marginalized and vulnerable communities; and (3) decreased barriers to participation in education for girls and boys, including those with disabilities, in 16 schools in the Abeshege and Woliso districts.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) trained 285 teachers and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) club members (62 women and 223 men) on relevant WASH topics; (2) established 16 WASH clubs at project schools; (3) trained 16 local artisans (2 women and 14 men) in producing low-cost WASH products; and (4) trained 17 local suppliers (6 women and 11 men) on WASH product promotion.