Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

Bringing improved water sources, latrines and hygienic practices to the most remote communities

WASH in the DRC

DRC is the most “water rich” country in Africa yet, in rural locations where ASSP works, only 32% of the population is able to access potable water and 17% benefit from suitable water and sanitation devices (EDS, 2013). The lack of adequate available water and sanitation creates a ripple of impacts on the population. Most seriously, water-borne diarrheal diseases drive alarming rates of child mortality, causing an estimated 17% of all child deaths.

IMA aligned with the DRC National Framework of Clean Schools and Villages Program (CSVP) and is committed to sustainably promote better hygiene, sanitation practices, and increase clean drinking water availability in assisted communities. IMA is promoting a mixed approach that involves water and sanitation interventions. This is a community-driven approach and seeks community empowerment and develops capacity in community self-evaluation for development activities.

1,829

WASH infrastructure projects completed from 2013 to 2019

Learn more about IMA's ASSP Project

Our Approach to IMproving WASH in the DRC

ASSP increased access and use of potable water and hygienic sanitation by constructing water infrastructure such as community rainwater collection cisterns at health centers, new protected water points, wells with solar water pumps, and distributing toilet tiles for latrine construction to improve access to sanitary elimination.

Key Achievements

clean schools

ASSP supports healthy school programs in 28 health zones. In the last year certified schools increased from 16 to 41. As part of this process toilets and 12,000 liter water cisterns were built to provide water and sanitation for over 20,000 students. A community water filter was also provided to each school.

safe drinking water

327,454 people have been provided with access to safe drinking water sources

infrastructure

In an effort to improve hygienic conditions in health centers, ASSP launched its Centre de Santé Assaini, or Sanitary Health Center program. To date 1,829 WASH infrastructure projects have been completed at assisted health centers, providing the means to keep these centers safe and clean.

adequate sanitation

304,975 people were provided with access to adequate sanitation

COVID-19 Response

As part of IMA’s Covid-19 response efforts, IMA and its partners distributed:

2,172 bottles of liquid soap;

535 handwashing stations;

480 water filters;

890 garbage containers; and

6,950 garbage bags.

Clean Village Program

ASSP’s WASH program implemented a certification process for communities to improve sanitation and hygiene in their villages. In order for a village to be certified “sanitary”, they must have a dynamic and existing village committee, 80% of the population must have access to drinking water, hygienic latrines, and proper methods of garbage disposal, 60% of the population must wash their hands with soap before eating and after being in the toilet, and 70% of the population must know the routes of transmission of waterborne diseases and how to prevent them. Also, the village must be cleaned once per month.

Villages certified Clean

Increasing Access to Health Care

Read more about how ASSP is contributing to improved health by increasing access to health care.

Learn more about our work to provide safe water in the drc

Publications

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Pilot Initiative: Water ATMs in DRC - June 2022 (pdf)

WASH Program Brochure – September 2019 (English version) (version française)

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