Written by Anteneh Mengiste, WASH Volunteer at ERCS Harar Branch and Ashenafi Abreham, Skybird WASH Network Facilittor at AutRC
Harar town in Ethiopia is getting water from 3 ground water sources which lie outside of the regional boundary of the target area. This causes administrative and social challenges for the town’s water supply. Additionally, around 12% of the population practice open defecation and many don’t have access to improved sanitation. The Skybird micro project implemented by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) Harari Regional Branch aimed to connect HHs to the existing water lines and build communal latrines, accompanied by a pro-poor oriented MFI WASH credit model which will be piloted in the town during implementation.
The following activities were accomplished under the micro project:
- A communal latrine constructed in Shenkor district in Harar
- Expansion of water pipe network for 100 targeted poor households
- Awareness creation workshops organized at community level to identified key stakeholders
- Establishing & facilitating team to conduct an in-depth study and produce a Pro Poor WASH credit policy framework and/or manual, and piloting & testing the pro poor oriented MFI linked WASH credit policy framework and manual at 12 targeted HHs.
Communal latrine constructed in Shenkor district in Harar
On November 202, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) Harari Regional Branch inaugurated communal latrine built in Shenkor district in Harar.
Communal latrine constructed in Shenkor district in Harar
On November 202, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) Harari Regional Branch inaugurated communal latrine built in Shenkor district in Harar. Heads of Harar Water and Sewerage Authority and Harar Health Bureau, ERCS- branch office board members and the district administration attended the event.
During the inauguration, 17 water storage tankers with capacity of 500 liter each were handed over for house holds to cope with insufficient water access due to frequent interruptions in the town.
Expansion of water pipe network to households
Under the Skybird micro project, 100 households, most of which women headed, were able to get access to pipe water and entered agreement with the utility (Harari Water Supply & Sewerage Authority (HWSSA)).
Awareness creation workshops at community level to identified key stakeholders
ERCS- Harari branch office in collaboration with the regional Health Bureau conducted a community-based sanitation and Hygiene awareness creation workshops in Harar. Experts from the Health Bureau provided the trainings.
