sustainability

Blog

Lessons Learned from the 10-Year Rotary–USAID Partnership

Since 2009, a partnership between the Rotary and USAID has combined the local community leadership of Rotarian volunteers with the Agency’s technical expertise. Throughout, the focus of the program has been on accomplishing three goals: improving sanitation and hygiene in schools and health facilities; increasing community access to safe drinking water; and advocating for ample government financing of WASH—that is, water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Presentation

Ex-Post Evaluation in International Development: Opportunities and Challenges

This presentation explores the role of ex-post evaluations in the international development field. It was delivered at the American Evaluation Association's 2019 Conference, and featured Abbie Jones (USAID), Cindy Sobieski (Millennium Challenge Corporation), and Kari Nelson (Social Impact).

Intl Campaign Day

World Water Day 2020: Water and Climate Change

World Water Day is observed annually on March 22 to raise awareness about the vital importance of water to safeguarding human security and maintaining the health of the planet's ecosystems. This year's theme, "Water and Climate Change," highlights the urgent importance of strengthening water security and establishing access to a sustainable water supply in the face of changing climate conditions worldwide. The observance will also raise public awareness about the many ways shifting atmospheric and oceanic conditions are reshaping t

PhotoEssay

World Toilet Day 2019: These Countries are Making Sanitation Gains with USAID’s Help

As we celebrate World Toilet Day and the transformative health and economic impacts of access to improved sanitation this November 19, USAID takes you from Ethiopia to Indonesia in this photo essay to showcase how innovative thinking, government action, and private sector participation are collectively improving sanitation around the world. Learn how USAID is helping contribute to our partner countries’ progress toward safe sanitation for all.

Research/Study

A Local Systems Analysis for Rural Water Services Delivery in South Ari and Mile, Ethiopia

This report provides a synthesis of various rural water studies and systems analyses undertaken in two rural woredas (districts) in Ethiopia: South Ari, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR), and Mile, in the Afar Region. The Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership conducted these assessments with representatives from local government and the USAID Lowland WASH Activity. The baseline studies include an asset inventory, service delivery assessment, life-cycle cost analysis, sustainability check, organizational network analysis, and factor mapping.

Article

Factors Influencing Revenue Collection for Preventative Maintenance of Community Water Systems: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis

This Sustainable WASH Systems study analyzed combinations of conditions that influence regular payments for water service in resource-limited communities. To do so, the study investigated 16 communities participating in a new preventive maintenance program in the Kamuli District of Uganda under a public–private partnership framework. First, this study identified conditions posited as important for collective payment compliance from a literature review.

Report

The State of Water, Sanitation, and Women’s Empowerment

A baseline exploration on Women + Water (W+W) Global Development Alliance implementation areas in Madhya Pradesh, India October, 2018

This baseline evaluation study was designed to collect up-to-date information across targeted communities on activities related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). This includes insights on WASH facilities, practices, demand for improvement, and women’s agency in decision making.

Activity

Tigray Productive Safety Net Program 4

The goal of the TPSNP4 is to “enhance resilience to shock, and improve food, nutrition and livelihood security among vulnerable rural women and men in 12 woredas of Tigray”. Central to achieving this goal are four interlinked domains of change (purposes) including: i) reduced vulnerability to shocks and stresses, ii) increased agricultural production and productivity, iii) improved sustainable livelihoods of vulnerable women, men and youth groups, and iv) reduced malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women, and children under five.

Training

Online Course: Water Education for Sustainability

Water education in schools often boils down to a rather simplistic set of activities, like campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the value and scarcity of water. Yet, the complex sustainability issues behind these concerns are often neglected, or simply unknown by school teachers in their efforts to tackle water education.