Final Independent Evaluation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Emergency Assistance and Preparedness in SNNPRS, Ethiopia

The objective of this evaluation was to assess ACF's "Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Emergency Assistance and Preparedness in SNNPRS, Ethiopia" project in terms of its impact, sustainability, coherence, coverage, relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. The evaluation was conducted based on review of documents and a fieldwork in the project areas in June 2010.

The project was prepared based on concrete needs assessments on existing conditions of the populations in the target woredas. The assessments established that both food insecurity and poor water and sanitation environment contributed heavily to the poor nutritional situation of the populations in the Aleta Wondo and Dale woredas of the Sidama zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples Regional State (SNNPRS).

Understanding of the needs level was further deepened with a WaSH rapid assessment and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey conducted at the beginning of the project. The activities, expected results and the objectives of the project were defined based on identified problems and with the active involvement of stakeholders. Accordingly, it aimed at responding to the unmet basic needs of the populations in an integrated manner. The project involved three main components: water supply, hygiene education and capacity building targeting vulnerable rural populations in the drought-affected areas with the highest rates of acute malnutrition. The project was implemented in areas where water supply was a critical constraint, and where women and girls used to travel long hours to fetch water from unprotected sources. Available data on morbidity in the targeted areas prior to intervention showed high prevalence of water related diseases. In this context the project interventions were relevant to improving the living conditions of the target populations through provision of safe water at reasonable distance and promotion of hygiene and sanitation practices.