WaterAid Rwanda launched its ambitious country programme strategy (2023-2028) on Friday, July 21, with the aim of significantly improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access across the country. The launch was attended by representatives from government ministries and institutions, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international communities, WaterAid staff and partners, and members of the media fraternity. ALSO READ: HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, WaterAid Rwanda inaugurate WASH facilities in Nyamagabe District During the strategic five-year period, WaterAid will prioritise achieving universal, sustainable, and safe WASH access, with a particular focus on Bugesera District to drive broader positive change. They will also place emphasis on integrating WASH into the health sector to enhance public health outcomes throughout Rwanda. Vestine Mukeshimana, the acting Country Director of WaterAid Rwanda, highlighted their strategic approaches during an interview with the press. She emphasised their focus on modelling sustainable, climate-resilient, and gender-responsive WASH services and behaviours, along with a strong emphasis on documentation and knowledge sharing. “Additionally, WaterAid Rwanda aims to forge partnerships and alliances while actively engaging communities and creating WASH champions,” she said. ALSO READ: WaterAid: Periods do not stop for pandemics. neither will we “Our organisation’s specific targets include improving WASH access in households, schools, and health care facilities. To achieve this, we plan to demonstrate the effectiveness of appropriate WASH infrastructure in 20 healthcare facilities, adhering to national standards and policies. We also aim to enhance the functionality and long-term sustainability of WASH services and promote good hygiene practices, Mukeshimana said. WaterAid Rwanda is committed to showcasing viable WASH technologies and effective behaviour change approaches. They intend to support the government and other partners in establishing robust accountability mechanisms for WASH policy implementation. The organisation will also advocate for increased and diversified funding to bolster WASH services and foster behavioural changes within the health sector. As part of their comprehensive approach, WaterAid Rwanda will document and share valuable insights on the benefits of WASH services, targeting healthcare decision-makers and planners. WaterAid allocated £17 million (approximately Rwf25.5 billion) for the implementation of the strategy and aims to play a significant role in enhancing the sector’s capacity to mobilise more funds. Olutayo Bankole-Bolawole, the Regional Director of WaterAid East Africa, emphasised the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in achieving lasting progress in WASH. “Women and girls bear the burden of water collection disproportionately, and the lack of adequate toilet facilities puts their privacy, dignity, and safety at risk,” she said. Patricie Uwase, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, stressed the need for pragmatism and a focus on tangible outcomes, highlighting the goal of positively transforming the lives of the communities WaterAid invests in. She congratulated WaterAid on formulating the strategy, acknowledging it as a crucial first step, and conveyed her unwavering confidence in WaterAid’s commitment to achieving the objectives laid out in the strategy. “With collective efforts, I believe that we can bring about transformative change for people everywhere, and the government of Rwanda also has a clear strategy for this. In fact, we’ve said from the beginning that not only is water a right, we want universality to be here by 2024,” Uwase said.
