Improved water, sanitation & hygiene in rural areas of Zimbabwe – Rural Wash Programme (RWP)

This is a synopsis of the Annual Review for this programme

Abstract

This is a synopsis of the third Annual Review (AR) of the RWP that was completed for DFID by Evidence on Demand in 2015.

Poor people living in rural areas of Zimbabwe are disproportionately affected by a lack of rural Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), which generates a significant, yet preventable, disease burden. 98% of people without an improved drinking water source are located in rural areas, while 48% of the rural population practices open defecation. The Rural WASH Programme, running from June 2012 to July 2016, was set up to facilitate a reduction in WASH related diseases and women’s’ workload, and improve basic education outcomes and gender equality. The programme was implemented by UNICEF and its eight Implementing Partners as part of its Country Programme of Cooperation in Zimbabwe. Engagement from the private sector is being encouraged. DFID contributed £33 million across 30 target districts to the programme, while the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) increased the number of target districts to 33 through a CHF 5.8 million contribution. The areas were chosen as a result of their low WASH access and high propensity to cholera. The aim of the programme is to provide equitable and sustainable access and use of safe water supply to 1.506 million people in the 30 DFID districts and an additional 220,000 people in the 3 SDC districts.

Insights and findings, and implications for advisers are briefly outlined.

Citation

Anon. Improved water, sanitation & hygiene in rural areas of Zimbabwe – Rural Wash Programme (RWP). Evidence on Demand, UK (2015) 1 pp.

Published 1 January 2015