WaterAid Ethiopia

05/08/2026

Breaking the "Same Story" Trap: new ways of identifying, framing, and reporting WASH stories

For more than four decades, WaterAid Ethiopia has worked alongside communities, government institutions, donors, civil society organizations, and the private sector to transform lives through sustainable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

At the forefront of this journey has been the Media helping us elevate WASH issues, instigate public dialogues around it and inspire solutions.

As part of our National Influencing Plan, we brought together journalists from broadcast, print, and digital media alongside communications and public relations professionals from government ministries, for a two-day Media Training Workshop in Bishoftu.
The workshop aimed at:

💧 Inspiring fresh and more impactful story angles and reporting on WASH and climate issues.

💧Opening an honest discussion on the barriers journalists face in covering climate and WASH related stories, and identify support WaterAid can practically provide

💧Mobilize collective media action to amplify local voices that promote Gender Responsive Climate-Resilient WASH advocacy messaging and solutions.

💧Establish Community of Practice to create sustainable partnership between WASH actors and the media

The workshop presented means on how media and WaterAid Ethiopia collaborate to produce impactful stories that inform the public, influences policy, and accelerates progress toward universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

We are excited for what's to come!

01/07/2026

We are Hiring!

Water and Climate Officer

In this role, you will be part of our North Mecha, Universal WASH Programme team where you will provide technical leadership and engineering support to strengthen the performance, resilience, and sustainability of rural water service providers within the North Mecha Universal WASH Programme, with a particular focus on ongoing projects including the From Tap to Policy Project.

Contract type: Fixed Term
Location: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Applications close 12:00 PM on July 13, 2026. Interviews are expected to take place on early August 2026.

Click Here to Apply
https://apply.workable.com/wateraid/j/6DD1E5B149

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

01/07/2026

We are Hiring!

Research and Advocacy Officer

In this role, you will be part of our Addis Ababa and North Mecha team where you will play a key role in strengthening evidence-based advocacy, research, and influencing across the Country Programme. As WaterAid, we are dedicated towards ensuring that everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, decent sanitation, and good hygiene.

Contract type: Fixed Term
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Applications close 12:00 PM on July 13, 2026. Interviews are expected to take place on early August 2026.

Click Here to Apply
https://apply.workable.com/wateraid/j/7EC60E5FDC

Together, we’ll change the world through water.
Join us and be part of the change!

28/05/2026

On WaterAid Ethiopia reaffirms it's commitment to creating by promoting gender-inclusiveness and climate-resilience in to WASH service delivery.

13/05/2026

Representatives from Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), accompanied by WaterAid Ethiopia team, visited the ECOSAVE: A Sustainable Solution for Conserving the Bale Eco-Region project, a part of WaterAid Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient WASH Programme.

This project funded by JOA is being implemented in Berbere Woreda of Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State in partnership with MELCA-Ethiopia and Madda Walabu University.

ECOSAVE is a model project that integrates natural resource conservation with WASH services using community-led solutions for improved ecosystem and livelihoods.

The team visited:
💧 Water points & reservoirs (Gora Hido, Haro Nano, and Sirima kebeles), and had discussions with Water Users Associations managing the water supply schemes
🪴 Soil and water conservation works and gully treatment (Haro Nano kebele)
☘️ Farmers adopting local trees (Haro Dumal Town) and held discussions with the farmers supported by the project
🐛 Pilot vermicompost sites ( Weltai Deresa Kebele and Gebe Keku Kebeles) and held key informant interview with the beneficiary farmers and government experts
🍋 Nursery site (Gebe Keku kebele), and held FDG with the women SME nursery group, trained and empowered to manage the site and improve their livelihoods
💰 VSLA/RuSACOs (Sirima and Welta Deresa kebeles) had discussion with members who were strengthened through the project’s support
🌪️ Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) committee (Weltai Deresa kebele) strengthened through project’s support
🏢 Woreda representatives (Haro Dumal Town)- the delegation had discussion with Berbere Woreda Deputy Administrator and the district's sector representatives from Agriculture, Water & Energy and Women & Social Affairs on the works done so far, areas that need stronger collaboration, challenges, and way forward with remaining activities of the project.

During the focus group discussions (FDGs) and Key informant Interviews, the delegation reviewed the progress of planned activities, engaged directly with the community and local government representatives to hear firsthand experiences and challenges. They also assessed the overall health of the project and shared their valuable feedback with the consortium members to ensure sustainable impact of the intervention.

The visit concluded with a Knowledge Sharing and Networking Workshop hosted by Madda Walabu University in Robe Town, where invited experts shared practical insights and lessons on natural resource conservation, such as Payment for Ecosystem Services mechanisms and natural resource management through an ecohydrological approach, among other topics.

Thank you to all delegations for your insightful visit. Click the link below to access a recent blog on their take.

https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/rooted-in-responsibility-how-guddifachaa-is-strengthening-environmental-stewardship/

06/05/2026

As part of the WaterAid UK's campaign, the story of 28 year old Anshiya's story was featured on The Independent online newspaper.

The piece entitled 'Baby clothes, razor blades and water buckets: Exposing the reality of global inequalities in maternal care,' covered Anshiya's preparation prior to heading to a rural health center to deliver her sixth child.

The article explored a case story developed by WaterAid highlighting the reality of global inequalities in maternal health.

The story is part of ‘Rebuilding Lives and Restoring Hope through WASH for IDPs and Host Communities in Shashemene Town’ (REHOPE) project. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints funded project aims to respond to the water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges affecting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in Gada Tokuma Kebele, Shashemene Town. The area is heavily affected by lack of WASH services due to rapid population growth, compounded by displacement and inadequate WASH infrastructures, primarily affecting women, children, and other vulnerable
groups.

Click to access the full article 👉https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/women-pregnancy-labour-maternity-water-b2970628.html

27/04/2026

Sustainable Practices to Advance Resilient and Inclusive WASH (SPARK) is one of the projects implemented under WaterAid Ethiopia’s universal WASH district. The project funded by WaterAid enhanced WASH services at Dobi Health Center through infrastructure improvements and capacity building. However, limited capacity in Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and fragmented budget planning across different government levels was identified as a challenge impacting the sustainability of WASH services in healthcare facilities.

To address this problem, a four day Life Cycle Costing (LCC) training was conducted in Adama town, from April 21–24, 2026, bringing together stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, regional and district health offices, and local water utilities. The training was provided with the support from WaterAid UK Programme Support and Knowledge team member, Upama Adhikari Tamang.

Prior to the training, Upama conducted a one day field visit at Dobi Health Center observing the newly constructed handwashing stations, waste disposal site, improved flooring and tiling in the postnatal unit, and inclusive sanitation facilities for patients and staff. The visit aimed at understanding the local context prior to delivering training for national, district, and health center officials.

The four day sessions combined theory and practice around:
Understanding and practically applying WASH FIT and LCC fundamentals in budgeting, cost planning, and identifying financing gaps.
Exercising Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Capital Maintenance Expenditure (CapManEx)
Exploring sustainable financing through the “3Ts”: tariffs, taxes, and transfers

The training concluded by introducing various LCC tools developed by WaterAid and IRC while participants from different administrative levels presented their action plans for implementing LCC and WASH FIT in their respective areas.

This initiative builds the foundation for stronger planning, better resource allocation, and ultimately, more resilient and inclusive WASH services in healthcare facilities.

22/04/2026

We are immensely delighted to share the last quarter newsletter for the FY 2025/2026.

https://phased-launch-cdn.wateraid.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/WaterAid%20Ethiopia%20Newsletter%20Jan-March%202026%20%283%29.pdf

Enjoy the Read!

01/04/2026

WaterAid Ethiopia has been featured on 'The Reporter' Amharic newspaper, marking this years .

Here is what Mihiret Fekedau, Head of Policy and Advocacy and Tigist Desta, Water and Climate Specialist had to say about WaterAid Ethiopia's work and national engagement in Climate Resilient, Gender Responsive water supply initiatives across Ethiopia.

Enjoy the read!

https://ethiopianreporter.com/154121/

ወተር ኤይድ በኢትዮጵያ መሥራት ከጀመረ ከ40 ዓመታት በላይ አስቆጥሯል፡፡ በንፁህ ውኃ፣ በመፀዳጃ ቤት፣ በንፅህና አጠባበቅ ዙሪያ ሁሉን አቀፍ የ WASH ፕሮግራሞችን በኢትዮጵያ እየተገበረ ....

27/03/2026

Strengthening Civil Society Organizations for Gender Responsive, Climate Resilient WASH service delivery

The inception launching workshop of the Civil Society Leadership in Mobilizing for Better WASH (CLIMB) Partnership Programme was held in Adama Town, from March 25-26, 2026.

WaterAid Ethiopia invited representatives from the selected implementing partner CSOs including Consortium of Christian Relief Development Association (CCRDA), Consortium for Climate Change Ethiopia (CCC-E), Ethiopian Women and Children Association (UEWCA), and Ethiopian Community Radio Broad Casters Associations (ECRBCA). Alebachew Adem, WaterAid Ethiopia's Country Director officially opened the workshop, warmly welcoming all participants and conveying WaterAid Ethiopia’s commitment to working collaboratively with implementing partners to achieve the project’s goals.

During the two days workshop WaterAid Ethiopia team presented on key required operating procedures, policies and compliance requirements including,
💦 WaterAid’s values and expectations of the Global Code of Conduct
💦 Financial management (including budget, acquittals, asset registers, payments, tranche, fraud management and counterterrorism)
💦 Procurement systems and approaches
💦 Monitoring and evaluation tools and mechanisms
💦 Branding and visibility
💦 Safeguarding at WaterAid, child safeguarding, complaints reporting mechanisms, Representation in Communication Policy, and deep dived in to partners safeguarding assessment tool

CLIMB project manager also shared governance and coordination arrangements, the type of partnership that applies to the project, roles and responsibilities of partners, and detailed implementation plan and expected key deliverables for phase 1 of the project.

The three years project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), aims to mobilize community-based organizations (CBOs) and call on duty-bearers to act on their commitments and to end the WASH crisis. Through strengthening and empowering civil society to act as agents of change, WaterAid Ethiopia targets to enhance Gender Responsive, Climate Resilient WASH services delivery in Gumbichu Woreda and nationally.

Lasting change happens when we work together across sectors.