Joining Forces for Project Success: COWASH IV and Amhara COWASH Regional Support Unit Provide Communication Training

The Community-led Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project, Phase IV (COWASH IV) Federal Technical Assistance Team is currently in Bahir-dar working in cooperation with the Amhara COWASH Regional Support Unit to provide training on COWASH communication.

The main objective of the training is to increase the relationship between the program implementers, the media, and communication experts and to make the project a better success by doing intensive communication activities.

Members of the COWASH Regional Support Unit, COWASH sectors’ Focal Persons, and Communication Directors, Regional Media and communication experts, a total of 24 trainees, are participating.

The training is mainly provided by Deribew Zento, Federal COWASH Technical Assistance Team, Communication and Dissemination Specialist, together with Amhara COWASH Regional Support Unit and Regional COWASH Communication Network.

The training will continue for three days from 26-28 December 2022 and will continue in all COWASH regions to create a common understanding and commitment on communication to the better success of the project.

At the end of the training, the existing Regional COWASH Communication Network (RCCN) will be strengthened and the Regional COWASH Media Forum (RCMF) will be newly established.


On the Ground and in the Classroom: COWASH IV Communication Training in Sidama National Regional State Empowers Program Implementers, Media and Communication Experts

The Sidama National Regional State Water, Mine, and Irrigation Resource Bureau organized training on COWASH IV communication in Yirgalem city Forra Training and Development Institute.

Opened by Ato. Assefa------, Deputy Bureau Head of Water, Mine, and Irrigation Resource Bureau aimed to increase the relationship between the program implementers, the media, and communication experts and making the project a better success by doing intensive communication activities. 

Members of the COWASH Regional Support Unit, COWASH sectors’ Focal Persons, and Communication Directors, Regional Media and communication experts, are participating.

Before the training, the trainees visited Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects built by the COWASH project in the region of Arbegona Woreda. In the next two days, conceptual training on COWASH communication and discussion will be held focusing on the results obtained in the sector, challenges and their solutions.


Oromia, On-track Region in COWASH IV

Oromia, On-track Region in COWASH IV


School WASH Facilities Operation, Maintenance and Management Training Manual

School WASH Facilities Operation, Maintenance and Management Training Manual


COWASH PHASE IV Baseline Survey Report

COWASH IV Baseline Survey Report


Charting the Path for Community-led WASH: COWASH IV National Steering Committee Deliberates on Project Performance and Future Plans

On 30 November 2022, the Community-led Accelerated WASH Project, Phase IV (COWASH IV) National Steering Committee meeting was held in Addis Ababa Capital International Hotel involving representatives of the Ministry of Water, and Energy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and members of the Embassy of Finland to Ethiopia.

The National Steering Committee held a wide-ranging discussion on the EFY 2014 Project Performance Report, the EFY 2015 Core Plans and the Fund Requests submitted by the Regions. Furthermore,  key issues arising were discussed and clear guidance was given to the Federal Technical Assistance Team on how to proceed over the coming months.


COWASH IV Trains Stakeholders in Social Behavioural Change Communication for Better WASH Interventions in Benishangul Gumuz

COWASH IV commenced Social Behavioural Change Communication training of trainers for Benishangul Gumuz COWASH stakeholders in Asossa City, Bamboo Paradise Hotel.

The objective of the training is to help the regional, and Woreda WASH experts to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate WASH social and behaviour change interventions at their local level and to cascade the training to frontline community workers at the woreda and kebele levels.

The training participants are Sanitation and Hygiene and Communication experts from the regional Health, Education, Women and Children and Water Bureaus, together with woredas who have well-established and functional Micro and Small Enterprises in WASH.

The training will be carried out over three days from 22-24 November 2022.  Ato Ebsa Feyisa, FTAT Behavioural Change and Communication Specialist is the lead trainer for the event.

Alongside the SBCC training, the Federal COWASH Junior Professional Officer Ville Juusela is expected to have a briefing and practical session on water quality.


Empowering WASH Stakeholders: COWASH IV SBCC Training for Oromia Region

COWASH IV started Social Behavioural Change Communication training of trainers for Oromia region COWASH stakeholders in Bishoftu City, BIN International Hotel on 12 October 2022

The objective of the training is to help the regional, and Woreda WASH experts to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate WASH social and behaviour change interventions at their local level and to cascade the training to frontline community workers at the woreda and kebele levels.

The training participants are Sanitation and Hygiene and Communication experts from the regional Health, Education, Women and Children and Water Bureaus, together with woredas who have well-established and functional Micro and Small Enterprises in WASH.

The training will be carried out over three days from 16-16 November 2022.  Ato Ebsa Feyisa, FTAT Behavioural Change and Communication Specialist is the lead trainer for the event.


Collaborative Action for Sustainable Water and Sanitation: Amhara COWASH IV Steering Committee Meeting in Bahir-dar

On 4 November 2022, the Amhara, COWASH IV Steering Committee meeting held in Bahir-dar involving representatives of the Bureau of Finance, Bureau of Water, and Energy, Bureau of Health, Bureau of women, Youth and Children, Bureau of Education, and members of the Embassy of Finland to Ethiopia. Representatives of the COWASH IV Federal Technical Assistance Team attended in an advisory capacity.

The Steering Committee held a wide-ranging discussion on the 2014 EFY performance report and the 2015 EFY Core Plan of the project in the region with particular reference to the need for scheme sustainability.

Currently, it is known that after holding a meeting of the steering committee of all six COWASH IV regions, they have approved their 2014 fiscal year performance report and 2015 plan and are ready to start implementation.

@ ANRS Water and Energy Bureau


Driving Progress and Collaboration: Benishangul Gumuz COWASH IV Steering Committee Spearheads Water and Sanitation Development

Today on 1st November 2022, the Benishangul Gumuz, COWASH IV Steering Committee meeting held in Asossa involving representatives of the Bureau of Finance, Bureau of Water, Irrigation and Energy Resource Development, Bureau of Health, Bureau of women, Youth and Children, Bureau of Education, and members of the Embassy of Finland to Ethiopia. Representatives of the COWASH IV Federal Technical Assistance Team attended in an advisory capacity.

The Steering Committee held a wide-ranging discussion on the 2014 EFY performance report and the 2015 EFY Core Plan for the project in the region with particular reference to the need for scheme sustainability.

In 2015 EFY, 20 water facilities for communities and institutions, as well as 10 rehabilitation of water facilities and 3 institutional latrines will be constructed.

For the 2015 EFY, a total of 27.7 million Birr allocated from the regional and the Finland government for water supply, sanitation, hygiene investment, and capacity-building interventions.

Source, BGRS Water, Irrigation and Energy Resource Development Bureau