Millions in the developing world grapple with poverty, hunger, and inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. This reality often leads to poor health and hygiene practices, perpetuating a cycle of vulnerability.
The Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD) is committed to breaking this cycle through our WASH community projects, aimed at building the capacity of communities and institutions to ensure access to essential services.
Our revised mandate underscores our dedication to water resources and supply management, sanitation, and environmental management.
We recognize the complex interplay of these factors, and prioritize cross-cutting issues such as climate change, hygiene, social inclusion, and gender equality in all our endeavors.
Given the diverse challenges faced by urban and rural communities, we work closely with partners to implement innovative WASH solutions, tailoring our approaches to the unique needs of each context.
We strive to expand access to clean water and sanitation facilities, while also promoting behavior change and fostering a culture of hygiene.
We believe in the power of knowledge to drive change. Throughout project implementation, we meticulously document processes and outcomes, contributing to the WASH knowledge hub and informing advocacy efforts.
By sharing our learnings and insights, we aim to influence policy and promote wider adoption of effective WASH practices.
Together, we can create a future where all communities have the resources and knowledge to thrive, free from the burdens of water scarcity and poor sanitation
Cholera Response Project
Donor: Government of Switzerland
Duration: December 2023 to March 2024
Location: Kuwadzana and Dzivarasekwa
The Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD), with generous support from the Government of Switzerland, implemented a rapid response project to combat a cholera outbreak in Kuwadzana and Dzivarasekwa, Harare. The initiative, which ran from December 2023 to March 2024, aimed not only to contain the immediate spread of the disease but also to build community resilience against future outbreaks of diarrheal diseases.
A key pillar of the response was the intensified participatory hygiene promotion, utilizing the Community-Led Action against Cholera approach. This multifaceted strategy included trainings, community meetings, door-to-door visits, implementation of targeted actions against cholera, distribution of essential non-food items (NFIs), road shows, radio campaigns, water quality monitoring, and coordination meetings with key stakeholders.
The project successfully reached over 2.4 million people with vital health and hygiene messages, resulting in significant behavior change within the affected communities. This collective effort was instrumental in driving down the number of cholera cases, particularly in areas where the full suite of interventions was implemented.
The IWSD's cholera response project demonstrates the power of community engagement and coordinated action in combating infectious disease outbreaks, while also building long-term resilience and promoting sustainable health practices.
Accelerating Water Improvement Sanitation and
Hygiene promotion in small towns (AWISH)
Donor: Caritas
Duration: June 2023
Location: Murehwa
IWSD supported Caritas to train community health workers on Menstrual Hygiene Management including making of Reusable pads. The activity was supported through an ongoing project (Accelerating Water Improvement Sanitation and Hygiene promotion in small towns (AWISH)) on WASH.
The training platform mapped the gaps in MHM for Murehwa district and profiled possible measures to address the challenges. Each community health worker was skilled on how to make a reusable pad using either machine sewing or hand sewing. The skills and knowledge will further be cascaded to the respective wards and villages represented.
IWSD identifies interventions on MHM critical. Millions of girls and women particularly from developing countries endure period poverty, thus making the provision of appropriate sanitary materials and hygiene education important.
Various Urban WASH
projects
Donor: WHH
Duration: 2019 to 2023
Location: Glen view
Warren Park
Dzivarasekwa
Pumula
Magwegwe
Through the various WASH projects implemented by WHH in Bulawayo and Harare, IWSD has been privileged to have direct interface with community members to facilitate monitoring of these programs.
IWSD has facilitated the Score card tool which is a participatory monitoring tool and in this case was adapted to monitor and evaluate key indicators for WASH service delivery in the identified cities.
The platform allowed the community and the Local Authority to share concerns, explain anomalies, provide or suggest solutions in a friendly and welcoming environment. Success stories of an increase in revenue have been recorded for some of the intervened districts.
Zimbabwe Idai Recovery
Project (ZIRP)
Donor: Caritas through UNICEF funding
Duration: October 2021
Location: Chikomba
IWSD supported Caritas to engage communities for Sustainability Action Plans for the established water points and piped water schemes under the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project.
IWSD prepared a manual for engaging the communities and also facilitated the discussion with communities who benefitted one of the piped water schemes. IWSD believes communities need to appreciate the value of the investment for them to meaningfully contribute to sustaining the investment.
Enhancing Community
Health through Strengthening Local Capacities for improving the Quality of
Drinking Water in Epworth
Donor: Global Water Challenge
Duration: 2018-2019
Location: Epworth
In 2018-2019, with generous support from the Global Water Challenge, the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD) led a transformative project in Epworth to strengthen local capacity and improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices.
Focusing on water quality, sanitation access, and positive hygiene behavior, the project engaged the community through open dialogues on water issues and provided training for community facilitators. We established vital community and school health clubs, empowering residents to take ownership of their WASH practices.
The project's success is evident in the positive community response. Schools and community members actively participated, leading to the identification of water sources for development, the formation of thriving health clubs, and the creation of early warning and risk management plans for key water points.
By fostering local ownership and capacity, the project has created a lasting impact on the health and well-being of the Epworth community.
Explore our past projects to see how our expertise has made a difference.
VIEW OUR PASt projects here
