Healthy Children, Healthy Communities in Togo – WASH Phase III
In 2013, the evolution of the water and sanitation situation in rural areas in Togo was very alarming, as the rates of access to water and sanitation did not allow the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. To support the State in remedying this situation, Plan started to implement Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects to supply drinking water and improve sanitation and hygiene practices in rural communities in the Plateaux region. Since 2014, PlanBørnefonden & Plan Togo have implemented four WASH projects in partnership with the Poul Due Jensen Foundation. Healthy Children, Healthy Communities in Togo Phase I, II, and III as well as the COVID-19 project have supported 21 rural communities in the Plateaux region to improve access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and hygiene.
Impact:
The activities of the WASH III cover a total population of an estimated 51,686 inhabitants, including 26,877 women and 24,809 men.
The main impacts of this project as perceived by the project participants are, among others:
- The availability and access to good quality water.
- A considerable reduction in water-borne diseases.
- The appropriation to a certain extent of good hygiene practices.
- The adoption of better practices in terms of management and disposal of human and animal waste.
- The reduction of social conflicts related to the issue of water.
- The correction of certain gender inequalities related to the collection and management of water. Women have revealed that since the implementation of the small-scale water supply systems, the men of their community have become more involved in the management and supply of water to their homes.
The project has also contributed to increasing the capacity of community-based organisations to take charge and manage water and sanitation issues in the communities.
Outcomes:
- The populations of 10 villages have access to drinking water according to national standards.
- People in 10 villages have access to improved family latrines and gender-sensitive school latrines.
- Community organisations manage drinking water points in a sustainable manner.
- The populations of 10 villages use drinking water and adopt good hygiene practices.
