Fourth Round COWASH Kicks Off with 18.4m Euros

Nov 21 , 2020

The government of Finland and the Ministry of Finance have signed a grant agreement for 18.4 million euros for the fourth round of the Community-led Accelerated Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Project (COWASH IV) in the country. The agreement was signed between Yasmin Wohabrebbi, state minister for Finance, and Outi Holopainen, Finnish ambassador to Ethiopia, last Friday. This round of the programme seeks to provide access to safe water for 800,000 people. It is going to be executed in rural parts of Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, Southern Nations Nationalities & Peoples, Tigray and Sidama regional states. The project, which aims to improve public health and wellbeing, social development and climate resilience, will be implemented through the Community Managed Project approach. With this approach, communities are in charge of the construction, management and maintenance of their water points. COWASH IV focuses on providing functional water supply and cost-effective sanitation facilities at schools and health centres, where major improvements need to be made.