The developmental approach of GTF’s Water, sanitation & hygiene program emanates from Rev. Gudina Tumsa’s vision & commitment. His Community-based (—Provide an avenue for the democratization of development by allowing scope for participation and expression by the local rural population’’) and Holistic approach (—an integral human development, where the spiritual and materials needs are seen together is the only approach to the development question in our society) meaning allowing for the participation of the community from the inception to the realization in project development to address the holistic needs of the people is the roadmap for project implementation. Accordingly, GTF’s implementation approach in WASH initiatives considers the needs, culture, and behaviors of the poor and vulnerable communities that are most at risk of waterborne, water-related, water-washed, and water-based infectious diseases.
While GTF starts its WASH intervention in Fantalle one of the most impoverished Woredas in Ethiopia, even in the worst condition compared to the average Ethiopian standard, WASH service, even in urban centers excluding Addis Ababa, is almost non-existent. Infrastructure facilities in Ethiopia are grossly underdeveloped.
The severe shortage of water in the area had always served as a source of conflict between the karayu and their neighboring peoples. The denial of access to the surface water resources in the area has been exacerbating the already existing conflict. Karayu elders still remember how life was much more bearable prior to the establishment of the sugar factory and the Awash National Park on their land. Water for both humans and livestock is a critical need across the entire Woreda. Except for Awash River and Lake Beseka, there is no permanent surface water resource.
Even the water quality of Lake Beseka is not potable for human and livestock consumption. Since recent times, Camels have also abandoned drinking the lake water because of increased concentrations of conservative chemicals like Fluoride. Therefore, the lake water is only used for car washing purposes. Rainwater harvesting is limited to pond construction and storage, which is the most popular way of water abstraction. The majority of ponds dry up completely during dry periods. Though groundwater potential is good in terms of yield, it is highly infested with fluoride and its temperature is usually high. Awash River is far from most of the communities and mainly used for traditional pocket irrigation purposes.
As the main source of living in Fentale Woreda is animal rearing, the provision of water and pasture for livestock is essential. This calls for integrated development intervention. To this end and in order to make meaningful contributions towards achieving a broader development leading to poverty alleviation and sustainable human resources and livestock development, Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) initiated its WASH intervention in Fantalle.
In the past three decades, GTF has accumulated a wide range of practical experience in the water supply sector in order to address the critical water shortage of water supply for humans and livestock in Fantalle, water supply projects by focusing on the rehabilitation and expansion of boreholes, rehabilitation of large community ponds, construction of sand dams on seasonal streams, construction of rainwater harvesting with roof catchments and construction of rainwater harvesting with ground cisterns. Through the Fantalle Integrated Rular development, new boreholes were dug, water supply structures were built, and the only borehole that had served the karayu and their cattle for a long time was rehabilitated.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a technique for collecting and storing rainwater for later use. This can be particularly beneficial in areas facing water shortages or with unreliable water supplies. Rainwater harvesting essentially diverts water from the natural hydrological cycle and makes it available for domestic use (for people and livestock) or for agricultural irrigation. There are three main ways to collect rainwater: ground collection, roof collection and sand dams. When properly stored during the rainy season, the collected water can be used during the dry season.
Roof catchment is a common method of attaching a gutter system to the roof of a building. The gutter channels rainwater to a downspout, which then directs the water to a storage container or underground tank. Corrugated galvanized iron or tiled roofs are ideal for roof catchment as they collect most of the rainwater. Thatched roofs, on the other hand, are less suitable because they absorb a significant amount of rainwater.
One of the first successful rainwater harvesting projects was implemented in a school in the Fantale district. Rainwater from the school’s iron roof was collected in a cistern and treated for washing, bathing, and small-scale irrigation. The report also details the specific locations of several rainwater harvesting projects with rooftop catchments and concrete tanks. These projects were built in Kobo, Tututi and Dire Dawa primary schools, as well as Algae primary school and kindergarten.
Kobo Sand Dam Model
Kobo sand dams are a particular type of dam suitable for arid areas. A sand dam is a low wall, usually made of concrete with heights between 1 and 5 meters. It is constructed across seasonal sandy river beds. During the rainy season, the river carries water and sediment downstream. A sand dam acts like a barrier preventing water from flowing under the ground thereby forming a reservoir inside the riverbed which holds water for later use.
Sand dams, on the other hand, store water that is collected on their surface underground within a trapped riverbed. This brings with it several benefits:
- Reduce evaporation: By keeping the water level at least sixty centimeters below the sand surface, minimal evaporation losses occur.
- Improved Water Quality: The sand acts as a natural filter for the stored water hence reducing animal contamination as well as other contaminants in it.
- Proneness to diseases reduced: Mosquitoes and other insect vectors of waterborne diseases cannot lay eggs in an underground reservoir.
- Groundwater Recharge: The stored water aids in recharging groundwater in nearby areas.
- Cost Effective Answer: Building sand dams is relatively simple and cheap making them better than alternative options available to communities with limited funding.
The Kobo Sand Dam project specifically focused on a site located at the foot of Mount Fentale in Ethiopia’s northeastern region. The surrounding mountains and hills create a natural drainage system leading to the Awash River. By implementing a sand dam in this location, the project aimed to achieve several benefits for the community, including improved water access for domestic use and livestock, as well as potential for sand harvesting, gully rehabilitation, and overall environmental improvement.
Rock-catchment
It is a rainwater catchment area developed from a rock outcrop to catch and concentrate runoff into a storage structure for later use. Stone gutters are made to collect the runoff from the rock catchment area, and direct the rainwater into a storage structure. The storage structure can be a tank or reservoir above a dam. The gutter is a stone wall built with rough stones/hardcore, joined with mortar. It is built around the outer edge of the rock catchment to direct the runoff rainwater into a storage tank or reservoir. Water can be stored in a brick or ferro-cement tank, above ground or underground, or in a reservoir behind a masonry gravity dam.
A Community-Based Approach to Urban Cleaning
The rapid increase in Sululta’s population has led to a significant challenge: managing the town’s solid waste. To address this, the GTF I-WASH Sululta project has implemented a comprehensive community-based urban cleaning campaign.
This campaign has two main aspects: raising awareness and improving waste collection.
- Raising Awareness: GTF conducts household visits to educate residents on proper waste management, hand hygiene, food safety, and creating compost from organic waste. They’ve also created 15 “model households” to showcase best practices.
- Improving Waste Collection: Monthly cleaning campaigns are organized, where residents participate alongside youth associations, volunteers, and local leaders. Informational materials are distributed, and activities include collecting waste, sorting it, and transporting it to disposal sites.
The GTF I-WASH Sululta project goes beyond cleaning. It has provided sanitation marketing training to youth and constructed new, sex-segregated toilets in schools.
Impacts of the Program
- The project has had a profound impact on the community of Sululta, bringing about positive changes in various aspects of their lives. One of the key initiatives has been the organization of weekly and monthly cleaning campaigns, which has led to a significantly cleaner environment and a noticeable decrease in communicable diseases. Additionally, by promoting proper waste management practices at the household level, such as waste segregation and composting, the project has not only improved the cleanliness of the area but also encouraged residents to use compost for gardening and generate income through recycling valuable materials.
- In schools, the project has focused on promoting good hygiene habits and contributing to a healthier learning environment for children. This has helped reduce the burden of communicable diseases among students and improved school attendance. Furthermore, the project has enhanced school sanitation by constructing latrines with handwashing facilities and establishing a menstrual hygiene management room equipped with necessary products, ensuring that students have access to a safe and dignified sanitation experience.
- Beyond cleanliness and hygiene, the project has also addressed environmental sustainability and access to nutritious food. By planting thousands of indigenous and fruit trees and introducing home-based vegetable gardening, the project has improved air quality and provided residents with fresh and healthy produce. Additionally, the pipeline extensions in schools and communities have brought clean water to hundreds of households, significantly easing the burden on women and children who previously had to travel long distances for water.
- Empowering the community has been a key focus of the project. Through training residents to manage water systems and waste initiatives, the project has given them a sense of ownership and control over their well-being. This has led to the creation of a safer and more sustainable environment for all. The “Waste to Wealth” initiative has been particularly successful, transforming trash into valuable compost and recyclables, protecting the environment, and creating income-generating opportunities for marginalized youths and women.
- The project has also provided a bottle-crushing machine to a local SME group, benefiting marginalized youth. This machine helps reduce the volume of plastic waste and cardboard, making transportation easier and reducing environmental pollution. In terms of sanitation, the construction of latrines and handwashing facilities in schools has significantly improved, and the project has also established a menstrual hygiene management room equipped with necessary products for female students.
Lastly, the project empowers youth by providing slab production training and start-up capital to launch their sanitation-related businesses. This initiative enhances the community’s sanitation infrastructure and creates sustainable economic opportunities for the younger generation. Overall, the project has made a positive and lasting impact on Sululta, improving the lives of its residents in numerous ways.