COWASH IV National Steering Committee Concludes End of Year Meeting
The COWASH IV National Steering Committee successfully conducted its regular end of year meeting at the Capital Hotel in Addis Ababa on September 3, 2026
The meeting opened with remarks from State Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation, Dr. Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo and Embassy of Finland Head of Cooperation Mr Tomi Särkioja, who highlighted the ongoing partnership and success of the project.
COWASH IV’s Chief Technical Advisor Neil Chadder presented the project’s key achievements from the past fiscal year, outlined upcoming targets and shared strategic insights to optimize implementation for EFY 2019. Committee members commended the project’s strong performance and engaged in productive discussions to refine the operational roadmap for the current fiscal year. Dr. Ambassador Asfaw emphasized the importance of the operational roadmap presented by the Chief Technical Advisor for ensuring successful project performance in EFY 2019.
During EFY 2018 alone, the project constructed and rehabilitated 1,454 community water points, benefiting 365,074 people. This brought total cumulative beneficiaries to 1,375,218 people, surpassing the initial project target of 1.1 million. This achievement was warmly applauded by committee members for its extensive impact on rural communities.
COWASH IV also constructed water supply schemes in 275 schools and improved latrines in 44 schools, benefiting 196,436 students and staff. Other key institutional achievements include construction of water points in 183 health posts alongside improved latrines in 84 health posts, capacity building training programmes reaching 20,165 people, the establishment of 208 WASH Saving and Loan Associations and the construction of Menstrual Hygiene Management centers across 52 schools.
Following the national meeting, Regional Steering committee meetings have been scheduled, with the South-West Ethiopia People’s Region wrapping up the first one on September 7, 2026.
COWASH IV National Steering Committee members include partner ministries: the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Water and Energy, alongside the Embassy of Finland. Mikaela Kruskopf, Project Manager at NIRAS International and COWASH Home Office Coordinator, also attended the meeting.
As COWASH IV enters EFY 2019 the project remains committed to strengthening rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and leaving a sustainable legacy for communities across Ethiopia.
COWASH IV Hosts Workshop on Gender-Responsive WASH Implementation
COWASH IV convened key stakeholders at the Sapphire Addis Hotel on September 1, 2026, to review findings from its two assessments and map out practical steps for strengthening gender-responsive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) implementation across Ethiopia.
A total of fifty participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Embassy of Finland, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), development partners and regional stakeholders attended the workshop.
The workshop aimed to review findings and recommendations from the two assessments carried out to identify steps to strengthen inclusive and gender-responsive WASH programming. The assessments: Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) impact assessment and Women’s Leadership in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Committee Governance assessment, were conducted from January 2025 to May 2026 across Central Ethiopia, Oromia, Sidama and South Ethiopia Regions. Firewoyni Solomon, COWASH IV Gender and Disability Inclusion Specialist, presented the findings and recommendations, sparking active discussion sessions focused on MHM service quality, sustainable supply chains, meeting design adjustments and institutional accountability.
Participants commended the multi-sectoral approach of the event. Mickal Mamo, Founder of Adey Reusable Menstrual Pads, described the initiative as “an eye-opener”, noting that bringing key sector players together lays a solid groundwork for collective action and tangible change. Brihan Woldegebriel, Gender and Disability Inclusion Specialist at the COWASH IV Tigray Regional Team, emphasized that COWASH IV is contributing to strengthening gender-responsive WASH initiatives nationwide by convening diverse stakeholders and conducting critical assessments.
Assessment Findings
The Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Impact Assessment was conducted in the Gorche, Wondogenet, Fofa, Lemo, and Gumay Woredas, involving 56 schoolgirls through focus group discussions. While the evaluation confirmed that MHM facilities provide critical privacy, dignity and confidence, it also identified ongoing gaps in reliable water supplies, consistent soap and pad provisions, safe disposal mechanisms and accessibility for girls with disabilities.
Simultaneously, the Women Leadership in WASHCO Governance Assessment engaged 53 women across eight Woredas using qualitative focus groups and key informant interviews to evaluate the shift from numeric representation to substantive decision-making power. Data showed that COWASH IV expanded female participation, with 55 percent of WASHCOs meeting or exceeding the 50 percent women-membership target and 48 percent holding leadership roles as of Ethiopian Fiscal year 2017. However, the assessment highlighted that structural barriers, including unpaid care burdens and male-dominated decision-making, continue to limit true influence.
The workshop highlighted both progress and persistent challenges, reinforcing the importance of collective action. The workshop underscored COWASH IV’s commitment to advancing gender-responsive WASH services and building inclusive systems that empower women and girls across Ethiopia.
COWASH IV Concludes Annual Planning and Progress Evaluation Workshop
COWASH IV held its annual progress review for the concluded Ethiopian Fiscal Year (EFY) 2018 and planning workshop for EFY 2019 in Bishoftu from August 25–27, 2026. The project’s federal team and representatives from all regional offices took part in the workshop.
The gathering served as a platform for federal and regional teams to present their current implementation status, budget allocations, achievements, and strategic focus areas for the upcoming fiscal period. Subsequent sessions centered on planning for the current fiscal year, harmonization efforts and collaborative strategies. Discussions also emphasized the continued strengthening of gender mainstreaming, sanitation initiatives, climate resilience, and outreach and promotion activities.
The workshop concluded with an agreement on the proposed action plans and strategic ways forward. Following the federal workshop, regional teams will facilitate their respective Regional Steering Committee meetings to review progress and finalize regional plans before the end of Septemeber, 2026. The Sidama region already concluded its steering committee meeting earlier this month.
Participants noted the workshop’s productive outcomes, highlighting the open discussions and collaborative approach as essential for advancing COWASH’s mission to address rural community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs.
Ensuring Affordable Sanitation in Rural Communities through Alternative Financing
In Samien Amobokona village, Central Ethiopia, improving household sanitation has long presented significant financial challenges for rural residents. To address this barrier, COWASH IV, in collaboration with the local community and VisionFund Microfinance Institution, established an alternative financing model.
In the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2017, COWASH IV facilitated the formation of a 26-member Saving and Loan Association (SLA) in the village. The group enables members to save regularly and take turns funding basic construction for improved latrines.
To enable members to purchase plastic slabs, the initiative integrated a microfinance mechanism with VisionFund. Under this model, an SLA member saves thirty percent of the cost of a plastic slab (ETB1,100/€6) in a VisionFund account. VisionFund pays a local sanitation supply and water scheme maintenance Medium and Small Enterprise directly for the slab, and the member collects and installs it. The remaining loan amount is repaid by the member over the course of one year.
Through this collaborative approach, half of the initial group’s households have successfully constructed improved latrines using the plastic slabs. Building beyond Samien Amobokona, the COWASH IV Community-managed Project Approach Advisor and the Woreda Health Office are working with VisionFund to scale the model across additional villages.
This initiative is part of the project’s broader national effort. To date, COWASH has established more than 400 SLAs across the eight regions where it operates, enabling communities to construct their own improved household latrines. The project facilitates the establishment of these groups and provides the necessary training to ensure their long-term sustainability. Experience shows that once all group members finalize constructing their improved latrines, many groups continue their savings and shift focus to other WASH services, such as bringing tap water to their homes or installing solar power at community water points.
To further strengthen the supply chain, COWASH IV has established 26 Market-Based Sanitation Centers (MSCs) in collaboration with regional governments. These MSCs supply sanitation materials and maintain water schemes. By integrating SLAs with MSCs, COWASH IV is working to improve both the affordability and accessibility of sanitation materials, ensuring that SLA members can easily obtain and afford construction materials as well as sanitation supplies. Through this comprehensive approach, COWASH IV is working to ensure long-term sustainability and improved sanitation and hygiene practices.
COWASH IV and Max Foundation Review Progress on WASH and Nutrition Integration
COWASH IV and the Max Foundation convened their first biannual review meeting on June 8, 2026, to evaluate the progress of their joint partnership aimed at integrating WASH with nutritional initiatives in the Central Ethiopia Region.
Federal officials from the Ministry of Health and the Seqota Declaration team, and local leadership from the pilot site of Fofa Woreda attended the meeting. Sectoral representatives traveling from Fofa included officials from Agriculture, Education, Health, Job Skills Creation and Enterprise, Water, and Women and Children’s Affairs, ensuring localized management of the multi-sectoral initiative.
The review highlighted a shift from independent, parallel institutional tracks toward a layered partnership model designed to eliminate duplicated efforts. Project data indicates that community-led management of the combined WASH, nutrition and nutrition-sensitive agriculture frameworks has enhanced the overall efficiency and sustainability of the intervention.
Technical Training and Local Enterprise Establishment
The biannual review follows a technical training programme conducted from April 27 to May 1, 2026, in collaboration with Wolkite Polytechnic College and Satellite Institute. The session focused on the production of liquid soap and reusable sanitary pads.
The primary objective of the training was to build manufacturing skills among members of the newly established Selam Sanitation Enterprise, which was formed in January 2026. It also served to strengthen the supervisory capacity of regional and Woreda-level COWASH personnel. Through the establishment of this local enterprise, the partnership aims to secure a consistent and affordable supply of sanitation products within Fofa Woreda.
This training marks the second major capacity-building milestone for the pilot project. In January 2026, the joint partnership launched its field-level implementation with a comprehensive Training-of-Trainers programme in the Central Ethiopia Region. The initial session included 50 participants, spanning government technical experts, agricultural extension officers, health extension workers, and local enterprise representatives. Following the training session, specific nutrition modules were cascaded directly to community health extension workers.
Ongoing Joint Field Activities
The partnership maintains several standardized health and agricultural interventions across the pilot area, which are carried out by joint teams on a regular basis. At regional health posts, a routine nutrition counseling is being provided focusing on dietary diversification, feeding frequencies and nutritional patterns for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under two years of age. These sessions are paired with practical cooking demonstrations that show families how to prepare diversified foods and porridge using locally sourced ingredients.
Furthermore, routine child growth monitoring is conducted across five local health posts for children under two years of age, utilizing specialized equipment supplied by the partnership earlier this year. To reinforce these health interventions at the household level, the initiative provides practical agricultural training and extension support, specifically focusing on poultry production and homestead gardening to improve local food security.
Future Outlook and Assessment
Project teams are currently conducting a comprehensive nutrition business assessment. Guided by the strategic framework of the Seqota Declaration, the study is designed to map private-sector engagement, identify systemic constraints and isolate entry points for future development interventions.
Concurrently, the partnership is finalizing the distribution of startup capital for the Selam Sanitation Enterprise, alongside the procurement and delivery of growth monitoring and cooking demonstration equipment for the remaining health posts throughout Fofa Woreda.
Transforming MHM Services: Key Insights from COWASH’s Latest Impact Assessment
For many young girls in rural schools, a natural biological cycle has long been a source of unvoiced anxiety. When a school lacks safe and private spaces, managing menstruation becomes an overwhelming challenge tied to shame, fear of public exposure and sudden dropouts. However, COWASH’s newly concluded MHM impact assessment report shows how targeted MHM interventions are shifting this reality, turning spaces of fear into environments of confidence and dignity.
The assessment, conducted between December 2025 and April 2026 by the COWASH IV team, examined girls’ daily school experiences across three project regions: Sidama, Central and Oromia. By gathering qualitative evidence from focus group discussions with 56 girls across five distinct sites, the evaluation captured a before and now transformation in how menstruation affects a girl’s life at school.
Shifting from Fear to Focus
Before the construction of the MHM centres, schoolgirls who participated in the assessment recalled a time when unexpected menstruation at school inevitably meant leaving class early or staying home entirely. The fear of staining their clothes, a lack of sanitary products and the absence of private spaces to wash left many with no choice but to drop out of their daily lessons.
One girl shared a memory of staining her clothes before a safe space existed. Terrified to move, she waited in humiliation until all other students had left the building before she could walk home. She then had to return to the school at dawn the next morning with water to clean her chair before her peers arrived.
Today, the MHM center has fundamentally changed that reality in her school. With these secure, lockable private spaces now active on school grounds, girls have a dedicated environment where they can wash, rest, access clean sanitary pads and check their clothes in a mirror. This structural security translates directly into mental confidence, allowing girls to return to their classrooms comfortably and continue learning without fear. In fact, across almost all evaluation sites, girls proudly reported that they did not miss a single day of school during their most recent menstrual cycle.
More Than Infrastructure: A Network of Support
The evaluation highlights that the true impact of the MHM centres lies in how they blend physical infrastructure with human support. The presence of the centres has helped shift the school climate, significantly reducing school-level stigma and teasing. Girls report feeling increasingly comfortable openly discussing their needs and seeking help.
Across all three regions, female teachers have emerged as the primary, most trusted pillars of support, alongside active girls’ clubs and peer networks. In Fofa High School in Central Ethiopia, a strong dynamic of peer solidarity has taken root. One student shared how she guided a frightened classmate through her very first period, bringing her directly to the MHM center and connecting her with a supportive teacher for reassurance and supplies. The center has effectively transformed from an isolated facility into a community hub of safety and guidance.
To ensure these spaces remain functional, fully inclusive, and sustainable, upcoming interventions will explicitly target site-specific operational priorities raised directly by the students including improving internal privacy features, such as adding shower curtains. Furthermore, across all regions, the project is actively developing formalized menstrual pain management protocols with local health offices to provide resting comfort options, while expanding community conversations to dismantle lingering misconceptions outside the school gates.
By listening to the lived experiences of the students and matching structural standards with real-time feedback, COWASH IV is ensuring that rural schools remain spaces where girls can learn, grow and lead with their dignity fully intact.
Beyond the Numbers: How Community Contributions Shape COWASH Water Schemes
While development projects frequently measure success by total funding spent and the number of infrastructure built, long-term goals can only be reached through the genuine need, engagement, participation, leadership and ownership of the communities themselves. This is why the COWASH IV project, through its community-managed project (CMP) approach, actively gives primacy to communities as owners, designers, implementers, and administrators of their own water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. By doing so, the project is proving that the true value of infrastructure and its sustainability lie in the unquantified sweat equity of the people using it.
Under the CMP approach, rural communities are not passive recipients of support but play an active partner role by contributing between 15 and 40 percent of the total cost of local water schemes. On the ground, this equity is built through a rigorous system of manual labor, material sourcing, and financial pooling. Because many rural water points are located in terrains completely inaccessible to heavy vehicles, community members frequently transport heavy construction materials over the final miles by hand or through animal traction. Local residents also clear access roads for drilling rigs, excavate deep trenches, lay pipelines and provide round-the-clock security for construction equipment.
To ensure this participation reflects genuine equity rather than symbolic involvement, local Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOs), alongside local artisans, maintain daily attendance logs. At the conclusion of construction, these logged hours are converted into monetary values based on standard local wage rates, verified by experts during field supervisions, and submitted to Woreda water offices.
Beyond physical labor, communities source and supply essential local building blocks, including sand, river gravel, stones and wood for concrete mixing. The types and volumes of these resources are formally agreed upon during initial project appraisals, inspected upon arrival, and logged into project registers. Like the labor hours, these materials are valued against local market prices at the project’s end to determine the exact community investment. While not strictly mandatory, many communities also choose to pool direct cash resources, which are formally receipted and tracked in final financial reports.
The total community share of ownership is calculated using a precise formula, dividing the combined value of local labor, materials, and cash by the overall cost of the scheme, which includes both the community contributions and the project’s direct grant. This converted figure establishes the community as the primary stakeholder, an approach intended to ensure long-term maintenance and institutional resilience.
This focus on local empowerment has directly driven the project to surpass its latest national milestones ahead of schedule. The latest data shows that COWASH IV has now reached 1,214,364 rural residents across the country through the completion of 3,816 new water schemes and the rehabilitation of 925 existing ones. To safeguard health, communities are also actively implementing 2,396 localized Water Safety Plans.
By empowering communities to design, construct and manage their own infrastructure, COWASH IV is working to contribute in achieving access to universal and sustainable WASH services in rural Ethiopia.
