Review of the Hilton Foundation’s Investments in Service Delivery Models for Rural Water Provision: Ethiopia Synthesis Report
Review of the Hilton Foundation’s Investments in Service Delivery Models for Rural Water Provision: Ethiopia Synthesis Report
At the Hilton Foundation, one of the most critical components of our philanthropic approach is to regularly evaluate our investments and approaches, share these findings with the field, and modify our approach as needed based on these learnings. We’re pleased to share some findings from recent reviews of our investments in Ethiopia. This country-specific report follows our review of Rural Water Service Delivery Models in September 2023.
Yezina Alemneh is a young farmer and member of the watershed management committee for Minzir 01 watershed in North Mecha woreda. The project is promoting sustainable agricultural practices, which work to advance women’s empowerment and reduce pressures on water resources necessary for drinking water. (Photo by Nubia/WRI)
The primary objective of our Safe Water portfolio review was to investigate the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of supported service delivery models (SDMs), including community-based management, publicly owned water utilities and private-sector approaches, such as Safe Water Enterprises (SWE). Our funding in Ethiopia has largely focused on the three Woredas, or districts, of Dera, Farta and North Mecha.
Several recommendations surfaced to improve the delivery of services across our investments in Ethiopia, including the following:
Aligning with national plans: The One WASH National Program is the Government of Ethiopia’s unique sector-wide approach to water provision. It offers an important framework for different ministries, development partners, academia, non-governmental organizations and donors to align their activities in the rural water sector. We can amplify our collective impact by designing activities that work in coordination with all levels of government.
Working beyond the boundaries of one district: To provide safe water effectively, we must work beyond individual Woredas or districts. We can improve efficiency and reduce the cost of services by working at the regional level, or within a cluster of woredas, and at the national level.
Professionalizing safe water services: Many rural areas in Ethiopia rely on community-run systems, but this doesn’t always lead to better services due to the volunteer nature of this model. One potential solution recommended by the Government of Ethiopia is the creation of rural water utilities, but we need additional evidence to assess this service delivery model.
Emphasizing water security: Managing our water resources and working toward climate resilience should be a priority. Changing weather patterns leading to floods and droughts, combined with other human activities, i.e., farming, impact the environment. We work in part of the Tana watershed in Ethiopia to restore degraded lands and conserve water resources that are essential for human needs.
