Why we are here
In Ethiopia, up to 42% of children under five are stunted; 51% of households lack proper sanitation; 37% of the people practice open defecation; and 29% of children under two are at risk of chronic diarrhoea.
The Healthy Village Programme seeks to reduce stunting and the prevalence of water- and fecal-borne diseases among children under two years.
We aim to ensure child health by supporting communities in establishing safe WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) environments, as well as access to nutritious diets, while promoting maternal and adolescent health – as adolescents will be the parents of the future. This is always done by embracing climate-resilient practices and adopting gender-transformative approaches.
Our approach
This evidence-based approach integrates WASH, nutrition, and maternal and adolescent health within a single intervention strategy.
We drive demand for healthy products and services at the community level by raising awareness and fostering gender-transformative behavior change. Simultaneously, we enhance local supply chains by involving and training local entrepreneurs in providing climate-resilient WASH, nutrition, and health services.
This community-wide transformation hinges on altering household and communal practices, all geared towards ensuring child health and well-being.
Who is involved
Our data proves that children have less risk of being stunted if their neighbours have high levels of hygiene. That is why we use a village level approach, involving everybody to integrate WASH and Nutrition for child health.
Caregivers are taught to track the growth of their children and learn about factors that influence child health; extension workers from the government are supported with tools and techniques; (micro) entrepreneurs are strengthened to supply nutrition and WASH-related products & services; farmers are trained on nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient agriculture; Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs) help members access credit to invest in WASH and nutrition; and students are trained by schools on healthy habits and growing micronutrient-rich food, ensuring a generational impact as they share this knowledge with their families.
Whether we are working with caregivers, students, entrepreneurs or children, we always work with women, men, boys and girls, and strive to change harmful gender and social norms.
Andualem’s Story
Andualem Anteneh (38), father of two children, grew up in a rural village in East Gojam, where there was no clean drinking water or toilets. “I wish to raise my children in a much better situation. I don’t want them to go through the same struggles I went through,” he says. Andualem earned his bachelor’s degree in educational planning and is currently studying for his Masters in distance education. Andualem lives and works at Enebre Primary School as a supervisor.
Andualem is one of the recipients of Healthy Village Ethiopia’s training on hygiene and sanitation, along with 2 teachers, one club representative, and the school director. After this training, Andualem decided to re-establish the school’s gender club, transferring his newly gained knowledge to the 24 students involved.
“The training made me aware that our female students face a lot of challenges during their menstrual cycle. Early marriage is also common practice in our community. The school administration has now drafted a new plan to create awareness on these issues, to bring about sustainable change through the gender club,” says Andualem. He was involved in renovating classrooms into menstrual health rooms. “I wish to see that girls stop missing class due to menstruation, and for the school to provide sanitary pads for the girls,” he says.
Partners
The Healthy Village Programme in Ethiopia is implemented by consortium partners Max Foundation and Plan International. They work closely with ORDA, iDE, the Ethiopian government and its ministries of Health (MoH), Water, Infrastructure and Energy (MoWIE), Agriculture (MoA) and Women, Youth and Children (MoWYC).
The Healthy Village Programme directly contributes to the Ethiopian Governments Seqota Declaration for Zero Stunting by 2030.
Where we work
Our goal is to reach 400,000 people living in poverty in four districts including Enebse Sar Medir, Goncha Siso Enese and Shebel Berentia, in the Amhara region.
In our programme areas, 54% of households have access to improved water; only 6% of the population have access to handwashing stations with water and soap; and only 4% of women of reproductive age (15-49) and 2% of children under two, reach minimum dietary diversity.
We have built water reserves which serve between 200-300 households, and introduced WASH services in several schools.
Every initiative is driven by the vision of creating healthier and more prosperous communities, and safeguarding the well-being of children as they grow up in their villages.