Nairobi, Kenya, January 10, 2024 – Advancing the goal of practical and scaled localization in the WASH sector, the Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) is excited to announce its award of the Sustainable Transformational and Accessible Water Interventions (STAWI) program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).The five-year initiative, called STAWI Mashinani (“at the grass roots level” in Swahili), has a budget of $12.6 million USD and will rely on the expertise of local actors to fortify water security in nine arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya: Garissa, Isiolo, Kitui, Makueni, Marsabit, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Turkana, and Wajir.
The STAWI Mashinani program will enhance the resilience and capacity of local institutions and communities in efficiently and sustainably managing water resources for domestic and productive use.
As the lead entity of a nine-member consortium of local organizations, MWA is uniquely positioned to achieve the program’s objectives. This program builds upon MWA’s extensive experience in leading county-level WASH initiatives in Kenya, such as MWA’s current RAPID+ program and advances our commitment to localization through partnership with NGOs, businesses and government to deliver breakthrough solutions.
Key Goals of the STAWI Mashinani Program:
- Improving Water Governance: Strengthening the abilities of local Water Resource Authorities and User Associations, increasing water availability, and resolving conflicts related to water.
- Sustainable Water Service Delivery: Enhancing the efficiency and reliability of rural water service providers and improving the operation of water supply systems.
- Management of Water for Productivity: Focusing on efficient water use by farmers and pastoralists, promoting climate-smart water technologies, and improving market access for women and youth in farming.
- Collaborative Efforts and Learning: Working closely with county governments, local partners, and communities to foster joint planning and adaptive management practices.
We invite others to join us on this journey as we test and scale effective localization through capacity building and implementation.
MWA has a long history of innovative programs in Kenya. Alongside the new STAWI Mashinani program, we continue our leadership of the five-year $15.3 million USD RAPID+ program, involving 12 partners with primary funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and other funds from local and international businesses, implementing NGO partners, and participating county governments.
For more information and updates, please visit our website and follow us on social media.
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Contact: Styers Kathuni or Jason Lopez at info@mwawater.org