Project description / objective
To increase use of improved WASH products and services among women and their families through development and testing of scalable and replicable market-based models.
The USAID Transform WASH Team will support the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and the One WASH National Program (OWNP)
Market system focus
WASH products and services
Low demand for low-cost quality WASH products and services.
Examples of products are: toilet pans and slabs, containment products and superstructure, hand washing facilities.
Examples of services are: installation of toilets, quality control, and cleaning services.
Community-led total sanitation and hygiene (CLTSH) has been the GoE primary approach to improving rural sanitation. However some communities are slipping back to open defecation - there is little change in hygiene behaviours or use of improved sanitation in all areas of the country. In addition the effectiveness of new CLTSH communication guidelines on increasing demand for improved sanitation is untested. The absence of inspirational promotions and market strategies further limits awareness and potential demand within the community.
Low supply for low-cost quality WASH products and services
The private sector in Ethiopia is a key implementer of the One WASH National Program (OWNP) water supply construction activities. However, virtually no private sector exists for household WASH products.
WASH, particularly low-cost sanitation products, are viewed as low profit, so little investment has been made to activate and develop a supply chain for WASH that reaches the last mile.
Programme interventions
Demand side
Increase demand for low-cost quality WASH products and services, with a focus on sanitation:
Intervention 1
Plan International will pilot changes to their behaviour-change communications approach using newly targeted messaging that take into account audience insights the project gathers and guidance from World Bank to build demand in peri-urban areas.
Intervention 2
PSI will recruit and train entrepreneurial community members as sales agents and test whether this is an effective channel for driving demand.
The team will train local retailers and masons on improved business/inventory management skills and test strategies for group sales and bulk buying. This will include sales events at markets during busy times of day, product/behavior demonstrations at health centers, as well as household level promotion.
Supply side
Increase supply for low-cost quality WASH products and services, with a focus on sanitation:
Intervention 1
The team, led by SNV, will develop WASH loan products and test financing models with interested Micro Finance Initiatives (MFIs) at the national and regional levels.
PSI will also collaborate with manufacturers who are able to provide business loans to their local retailers for start-up capital.
Intervention 2
The team, led by Plan International, will engage Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to test their effectiveness as a financing channel for WASH in years 1-2, complementing opportunities for consumers through MFIs.
As financing options are tested, appropriate consumer models will be refined and adopted more broadly in years 3-5.