FROM 16% TO 47%

A MARKET-LED SANITATION REVOLUTION IN SOUTH WOLLO ZONE, AMHARA REGION OF ETHIOPIA.

Author: Mekdim Hailu, Project Communication Manager, PSI Ethiopia

In rural Ethiopia, where over 70% of the population relies on agriculture, meeting basic needs often takes precedence over purchasing hygiene products. USAID Transform WASH has addressed this challenge by introducing Market-Based Sanitation (MBS), a critical step towards universal sanitation coverage. This impact is more evident than in South Wollo Zone, Amhara region, where a targeted MBS campaign in 2022 sold over 10,000 sanitation products within a single month.

Transforming Vision into Reality

USAID Transform WASH’s MBS approach goes beyond just selling products; it encompasses a holistic strategy to fundamentally change sanitation practices. In the South Wollo Zone of Ethiopia, where MBS has gained momentum, model kebeles (villages) serve as innovation hubs that inspire neighboring districts. A carefully planned campaign in May 2022, involving eighty-six kebeles in six woredas (districts), demonstrated the tangible impact of MBS in addressing sanitation challenges in rural communities. The campaign’s main objective was to promote the adoption of sanitation products such as SATO pans, improve the construction of latrines, and raise hygiene standards. The results underline how a targeted MBS campaign can improve sanitation infrastructure and behavioral norms.

A Comprehensive Strategy in Action

The success of the MBS campaign in South Wollo was no accident but the result of a well-thought-out, multi-layered strategy. The campaign’s annual and monthly plans were adaptable. At the same time, formal collaborations and memorandum of understanding formed the basis for partnerships with sectoral offices and woreda officials.

Crucial partnerships with key organizations such as Transform WASH, the Carter Center, World Vision, and technical vocational training institutions helped to expand MBS into new areas and provide training and technical assistance. Comprehensive training and capacity-building activities have enabled health workers, civil servants, and masons to effectively implement the MBS campaign, addressing demand and supply. In addition, a dedicated Telegram channel promoted seamless communication and the dissemination of information and feedback from stakeholders.

Sound financial management optimized resource allocation with targeted training, mobilization, and installation budgets. The Woredas showed outstanding financial commitment and provided more than four million Birr (approx. 70,000 USD), underlining their commitment to improving sanitation. In addition, the government structures and WASH business partners played a crucial role in scaling up product delivery and services. With such a comprehensive and carefully planned strategy, the MBS campaign in South Wollo was undeniably successful.

Achievements and impact

The MBS campaign raised awareness and stimulated demand for improved sanitation solutions, making enclosed latrines the new norm.

In the South Wollo Zone, the percentage of people with basic sanitation increased from 16% to 47%. In contrast, the number of people defecating in the open decreased significantly. This behavior change has far-reaching benefits: it promotes public health and a sustainable transition to healthier sanitation.

A look into the future

The success of the well-coordinated MBS campaign in South Wollo Zone lays the foundation for sustainable progress in sanitation and hygiene and offers valuable lessons for national action. Recommendations to improve MBS implementation include detailed zone-level plans, allocated budgets for planning and monitoring, and a target of providing eighty households with basic sanitation. This groundbreaking campaign promises to have a lasting impact on sanitation and hygiene practices beyond the Amhara region. It provides a roadmap for addressing sanitation challenges across the country to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all Ethiopians.