Authors: Mussie Tezazu (CQI & MEL Manager), The Millennium Water Alliance (MWA)
Key Takeaways
The water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) system in Amhara, Ethiopia, faces complex challenges due to limited funding, regulatory gaps, and external pressures, impacting the reliability and sustainability of services. Through a five-year analysis, the Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) identified key areas for improvement, emphasizing the need for systemic coordination and resilient, community-focused solutions.
- Systemic Assessment Approach: A comprehensive framework evaluated ten critical “building blocks” essential for sustainable WASH services, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of each.
- Progress in Institutional Capacity: Improvements were noted in institutional adaptability and management, aided by participatory workshops and stakeholder collaboration.
- Persistent Financial and Regulatory Challenges: Inconsistent financing and weak regulation hindered service reliability, with resource constraints delaying key repairs and expansions.
- Community Engagement Gains: Increased community involvement improved maintenance and inclusivity in decision-making, though levels varied across districts.
- External Disruptions and Long-term Needs: Ongoing conflict and financial constraints highlighted the need for a resilient WASH system supported by sustained investment in capacity building and coordinated stakeholder efforts.
Background
The WASH system in Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara region, faces a range of challenges that go beyond the physical infrastructure of water supply. Issues such as inadequate financing, poor regulatory oversight, limited institutional capacity, and external pressures like conflict and climate variability have all contributed to service gaps and non-functional systems. As of 2024, nearly 48% of the population in some areas remains unserved, with existing services often failing to meet the necessary standards of reliability, quality, and quantity.
To address these systemic issues, the Millennium Water Alliance adopted a systems approach to WASH service delivery. This approach recognizes that effective water and sanitation services require the coordinated functioning of multiple subsystems, including planning, governance, finance, infrastructure management, and regulation. By assessing the WASH system as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated components, this approach aims to provide a more holistic understanding of the factors that influence the sustainability and effectiveness of WASH services in the region.
Since conventional ways of assessing WASH systems often overlook the broader system dynamics, MWA developed a comprehensive framework that focuses on system-wide monitoring and analysis. From 2019 to 2024 as part of the Sustainable WASH Program (SWP), MWA implemented a combination of Building Blocks Analysis and Qualitative Information System (QIS) scoring in three districts of Amhara to evaluate how well different components of the WASH system function and to track their progress over five years. This study aimed to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement, providing a detailed picture of how various elements within the system contribute to the overall delivery of WASH services.
Methods
MWA employed two main methodologies to assess WASH system performance: the Building Blocks Analysis and the Qualitative Information System (QIS) scoring method.
- Building Blocks Analysis: This tool is designed to evaluate the strength of ten key components—referred to as “building blocks”—that are essential for the sustainable delivery of WASH services. These building blocks include institutional development, planning, finance, policy and legislation, infrastructure development, infrastructure management, monitoring, regulation, learning & adaptation, and water resource management (WRM). Each building block is assessed using a traffic-light scoring system (green, yellow, red) that reflects its performance. The assessment also includes a narrative description for each building block, providing context on the challenges and successes observed.
- Qualitative Information System (QIS) Scoring: QIS transforms qualitative insights into numerical data, allowing MWA to measure progress over time with greater precision. The scoring is based on ordinal scales or “ladders” that convert process indicators, such as participation and inclusiveness, and outcome indicators, like behavior change, into quantifiable data. This methodology helps track not only the technical performance of the system but also how well the system engages with communities, promotes inclusivity, and encourages long-term behavioral changes.
The assessments were conducted through participatory workshops involving key stakeholders at the district, regional, and national levels. These workshops allowed for an open dialogue on the performance of WASH services, fostering collaboration and encouraging the sharing of best practices. Over the course of six years, five rounds of these assessments were carried out in each district, with findings continuously refined and updated to reflect ongoing improvements or setbacks.
Results
Key Findings
- Institutional Strengthening and Adaptability: Significant improvements were seen in institutional capacity and the system’s ability to adapt. District and regional institutions improved their management and responsiveness, particularly in handling challenges like water shortages. Participatory workshops contributed to this progress by facilitating shared learning and adaptation.
- Advances in Infrastructure and Planning: Infrastructure management and planning processes improved, leading to better completion rates and more effective maintenance of WASH projects. However, some areas faced setbacks due to external factors such as conflict and limited resources, slowing infrastructure development.
- Persistent Issues in Finance and Regulation: Despite improvements in planning and management, challenges in financing and regulation persisted. Budget constraints delayed repairs and expansion efforts, while regulatory oversight remained inconsistent across districts, limiting the ability to enforce service standards.
- Community Engagement and Behavior Change: Positive changes were noted in community participation and behavioral shifts. Increased involvement in service management led to better maintenance practices and more inclusive decision-making processes, though participation levels varied between districts.
- External Challenges: Conflict and financial limitations continued to hinder progress in some areas, particularly in infrastructure development and water resource management. These external factors demonstrate the need for a more resilient WASH system that can withstand socio-political and economic disruptions.
Opportunities and Sustainability Needs
- Demand for Continued System Strengthening: There is strong interest from government agencies, NGOs, and other partners to continue efforts to strengthen the WASH system. However, this will require better alignment of resources, stronger coordination among stakeholders, and sustained investments in institutional and human capacity-building.
- Sustained Commitment to Capacity Building: Building on the progress made in institutional development, ongoing capacity-building efforts are essential for maintaining momentum and addressing challenges in areas like finance and regulation. Investing in training for WASH service providers and local government officials will ensure that the system continues to improve in both technical and management capacities.
- Coordinated Approaches for Long-Term Success: Ensuring the sustainability of WASH services requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders—government agencies, NGOs, service providers, and communities. Aligning resources and harmonizing efforts across the sector will help address the systemic issues identified in this study and improve the reliability and effectiveness of WASH services over the long term.
Conclusion
This five-year analysis of the WASH system in Amhara offers valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the current framework. While there have been significant improvements in areas such as institutional capacity, infrastructure planning, and adaptability, persistent challenges remain in finance, monitoring, and regulation. Addressing these gaps will require continued efforts from both local governments and development partners to build a more resilient, coordinated, and sustainable WASH system.
As the study shows, a systems-based approach is essential for achieving long-term improvements in WASH services. By focusing on both the technical and social components of the system, stakeholders can ensure that progress is not only made but sustained, creating lasting change for the communities in the Amhara region.
Learn More: Full Poster and Resources
For additional questions, please contact Mussie Tezazu, CQI & MEL Manager with the Millennium Water Alliance, at mussie.tezazu@mwawater.org.
Please see below for a digital download of the full poster: