In a significant step towards restoring the supply chain for plastic toilet slaps in post-conflict Tigray, COWASH IV facilitated the purchase and distribution of 100 medium plastic toilet slaps. In mid-December 2024, the project purchased the toilet slaps from Silafrica in Addis Ababa and distributed them to market-based sanitation centers (MBSCs) in Degua Tembien and Endamekoni Woredas.

This initiative aims to strengthen supply chains, improve access to sanitation products for COWASH IV community water point beneficiary households, and support the growth of local businesses by empowering MBSCs. It is crucial for the long-term success of WASH interventions in Tigray, says Mulatie Yinager, COWASH IV’s Medium and Small Enterprise and Microfinance Institutions Specialist. “By strengthening the supply chain, we’re ensuring that communities have access to the materials they need to improve their sanitation and hygiene practices,” adds Mulatie. This action underscores the project’s commitment to not only providing WASH services but also supporting a comprehensive sanitation landscape in post-conflict Tigray.

COWASH, which has been operating in Tigray since 2011, resumed WASH activities in the region under its current fourth phase, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Finance and the Tigray Bureau of Finance in June 2023. Recognizing the need for post-conflict recovery, the project has focused on rehabilitation and capacity building across its 12 operational Woredas.