UNICEF has launched a campaign «Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – WASH» in Gambia. The project will be implemented in Gambia’s Upper River Region which is considered to be one of the poorest areas within the country.

This initiative has two main goals:

• To ensure people’s access to clean water and basic sanitation
• Raising the awareness of the connection between hygiene and health

The project will include the following services:

• Information, training and communication
• Strengthening local capacities
• Provision of materials such as pumps, filters etc.

Global experience has demonstrated that sanitation and hygiene campaigns have to be embedded into a wider context in order to produce urgently needed improvements in health.

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The WASH project pursues the following overriding objectives:

Providing water, sanitation and hygiene: The project will provide a proportion of Gambians with access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Participation of local population: The project was designed in cooperation between local non-governmental organisations, government organisations and beneficiaries, i.e. families, schools and health centres. In order to ensure equal and efficient distribution of project sites alongside broad-based sensitisation on hygiene issues, the same players will be involved in the implementation of the project. The project will be based on the principle of demand as this orientation helps strengthen ownership and ensures proper maintenance of the water systems.

Equal access to water and sanitary facilities for women and men: A family’s access to clean water and basic sanitation is an important factor for the health of its children. Villages participating in the project have to earmark 50 percent of the seats in the Water Committee for women and have to guarantee that these seats are indeed taken by women. This measure intends to ensure that women are involved in decision making, that they gain access to water and that they play a role in the further development of the project.

Improving living conditions in the poorest region: The project will be implemented in the Upper River Region. Being among the poorest regions of the country, this region has the highest child mortality rate, the lowest school enrolment and very limited access to safe drinking water.

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Further information on activities
UNICEF will establish Water Committees in charge of constructing latrines and installing hand pumps. It will be their responsibility to maintain and periodically check the quality of the water. The programme will train committee members, particularly with respect to water management in times of crisis such as extensive rains or droughts.

The setting-up of Water Clubs in schools is aimed at strengthening awareness on hygiene and at propagating simple measures such as using soap. These clubs will be responsible for keeping school yards clean. They are expected to sensitise pupils to environmental issues. The setting-up of water clubs provides an opportunity to promote child participation within the project.

Installing filters and building wells in health centres open the possibility to train teachers and health centre staff in matters of hygiene. Such training will focus on the connection between hygiene and preventable diseases.

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