Ethiopia Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Movement

Each year the WASH Movement in Ethiopia launches a new slogan that determines the Movement's focus for the year. According to the organisers, this allows the Movement, political leaders, and community members to focus on specific issues in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector. To date, the slogans have been "Your Health Is in Your Hands" (2004-2005), "Let Us Use Latrines for Our Health and Dignity" (2005-2006), "Keep Water Safe" (2006-2007); and - related to the International Year of Sanitation - the focus of the campaign was sanitation (2007-8).

The following mobilisation, media, and advocacy activities were carried out following the slogan for each year:

• Your Health Is in Your Hands - This slogan, together with a special logo, was designed to provide a clear visual for people to understand the importance of the simple activity of hand-washing with soap, ash, or sand at critical times (such as before eating and preparing food, and after using the toilet). Roughly 100,000 bars of soap donated by the private sector were distributed throughout the country inside WASH kits. Communication packages with key WASH facts and messages, translated into 5 local languages, were widely distributed at the grassroots level. WASH messages were also communicated via Ethiopian television and radio, and through music especially produced for the campaign.
• Let Us Use Latrines for Our Health and Dignity - This phase of the Movement emphasised the importance of constructing and using latrines. Key focus areas were to build awareness among communities and to gain commitments and endorsements from government officials in order to obtain funding and approval to build latrines in schools without proper sanitation facilities. In addition to direct advocacy with decisionmakers, this involved the organisation of a WASH Ethiopia Movement familiarisation workshop for regional government officials, and a journalist workshop to increase the media's grasp on and coverage of key concepts, goals, issues, of the WASH Movement. In addition, 40,000 WASH packs were distributed, containing information about proper sanitation, including latrine construction and use.
• Keep Water Safe - This campaign focused on water quality. Launch activities included the distribution of messages on safe water handling, collection, transportation, storage, and treatment. Stage dramas, circus performances, role play, street shows, and processions were used to sensitise communities about hygiene and water quality. The ceremony was broadcast through local, private, and national media outlets. Other activities during 2007 included the organisation of a private sector briefing workshop to increase private sector involvement in WASH concerns, and a regional familiarisation workshop for representatives from regional health, water, and education bureaus of all regions to discuss the specific objectives and messages of the water quality campaign. This last workshop resulted in the development of a regional WASH activity plan, which aims to reach wider community audiences, among others, by cascading the national launches to the regions. According to the organisers, 2007 also saw an increased interest by media members of the WASH Movement in disseminating WASH messages to political leaders and the general public.

In collaboration with WaterAid Ethiopia and RiPPLE, the WASH Ethiopia Movement organised the third WASH Media Forum's quarterly event in the Northern Region of Ethiopia (March 14-17 2009). The purpose was to share sanitation and hygiene experience of Banja woreda and to facilitate an exchange between media representatives and WASH sector actors on sanitation and hygiene issues, World Water Day, and transboundary waters. The event had two components. The first was a field visit to Banja woreda in order to discover the sanitation and hygiene experiences of the region, combined with a brief discussion with the community, health and water offices, and the administrative unit. The other part was a one day-workshop on sanitation and hygiene issues that drew: 25 journalists both from government and private media; 3 higher officials from the Ministries of Water Resources, Health, and Education; 3 members of the WASH Ethiopia Movement; and about 9 government officials and experts from the Amahra regional and woreda health and water bureaus. Following the event, several journalists developed stories and programmes on water and sanitation issues in their printed and broadcasting media.

Sanitation, Natural Resource Management, Health.

According to the organisers, Ethiopia is one of the most underprivileged countries in the world, ranking 105 out of 108 on the human poverty index. Approximately 50-70% of the population lives under the absolute poverty line, and the under-5 mortality rate is 123 deaths per 1,000 live births. About 85% of the population live in rural areas. Sanitation- and hygiene-related diseases are among the most common deadly diseases in Ethiopia. In urban slums and rural areas alike, the majority of the population does not have access to sufficient and safe sanitation.

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is an international sector organisation that has worked since 1990 to achieve sustainable water supply and sanitation for all people, by enhancing collaboration among sector agencies and professionals. As part of its Networking and Knowledge Management and Advocacy programmes, WSSCC encourages the development of national WASH coalitions to carry out functions ranging from participating in information sharing to advocating specific policy changes.