Sexual and reproductive health
We make sure girls have the power, knowledge, and support to make informed choices about their bodies, health, and futures in every community and every crisis.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
We work alongside girls and families so they can drink clean water, use safe toilets, and live healthy, dignified lives no matter where they live or what emergency they face.
Across Ethiopia, millions of families still lack access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and basic hygiene facilities. Girls and women are hit hardest. Many must walk long distances for water, use unsafe toilets, or miss school because schools lack private places to manage their periods.
Girls continue to push forward, and we stand with them.
Why WASH matters now
Without clean water and sanitation, children face preventable diseases, malnutrition, missed school days, and reduced opportunities. For girls, the danger is even greater. Unsafe latrines increase exposure to harassment and gender‑based violence; lack of menstrual hygiene facilities forces many to miss school; and long distances to fetch water keep girls out of class entirely.
Clean water and dignity shouldn’t depend on where a child lives or what crisis they face. It is a right.
Our approach: Supporting every part of a girl’s world
Plan International Ethiopia works in refugee camps, displacement sites, and host communities to build safe, healthy, and gender‑responsive environments. Our approach combines emergency response with long‑term solutions, ensuring families have the services they need today and the systems they can rely on tomorrow.
We work hand‑in‑hand with communities especially women, girls, and people with disabilities to design systems that reflect their real needs.
We do this by:
- Safe water supply – Creating new water points, fix broken systems, use solar power, and make sure water is clean and easy to reach. Families gain closer, cleaner, and more reliable water sources reducing disease and giving girls more time for school and play.
- Sanitation services -We build toilets that are private, safe, and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. These facilities reduce open defecation, protect public health, and ensure girls have safe spaces to manage their hygiene with dignity.
- Hygiene education -Teaching children and families simple habits that keep them healthy. We share information on handwashing, safe water use, menstrual hygiene, and disease prevention and we distribute hygiene kits during emergencies for families who need immediate support.
- Emergency WASH response – When emergencies happen, we respond immediately. We supply safe water, emergency toilets, soap, water containers, and dignity kits, while also repairing damaged systems to ensure long-term access.
- Community engagement -We make sure communities, especially women and girls help decide and manage solutions. When communities shape solutions, those solutions last.
WASH in emergencies: Our response
In refugee settings
Since 2014, we have delivered WASH services in refugee camps across Gambella, Benishangul‑Gumuz, Amhara, and Tigray. We install solar water systems, build sanitation facilities in schools and clinics, and ensure clean water is available in child‑friendly and safe spaces restoring dignity and safety for displaced families.
In internally displaced persons (IDPs) sites
In temporary camps, we install emergency water systems, safe toilets, bathing areas, and handwashing facilities to protect children and families from disease. These services create safe living conditions even in the most unstable environments.
In host communities
Strengthen long‑term water and sanitation infrastructure so both host and displaced families benefit from safe, reliable services. This reduces pressure on communities, prevents conflict over water resources, and improves public health especially for women and girls.
What makes our work different
Putting girls at the centre
We design water and sanitation services with girls in mind.
- Make sure schools and health centers have clean, private toilets where girls can manage their periods with dignity.
- Build facilities that are safe to use, especially for girls and young women.
- Involve girls and young people in decisions, so services reflect their real needs.
Making water systems work in a changing climate
We help communities manage water so it lasts, even during drought.
- Install solar-powered water systems, so communities don’t depend on fuel or unreliable power.
- Help communities protect water sources and use water wisely.
- Support simple systems to store water, control usage, and prevent overuse, especially in dry seasons.
Building services that last
We don’t just build water systems, we make sure they keep working.
- Train local water committees and service providers to manage water systems, collect small fees, and carry out repairs.
- Support communities to track performance and give feedback, so services improve over time.
- Support local systems to avoid situations where water points are built and then abandoned.
Using practical and innovative solutions
We use simple and effective technology to improve water access and safety.
- Use tools to find underground water sources more accurately.
- Install systems that keep water clean automatically, reducing the risk of contamination.
- Promote solar energy solutions that are reliable and environmentally friendly.
Connecting emergency support to long-term solutions
In times of crisis, we act quickly, but we also plan for the future.
- Design emergency water services so they can become permanent community systems.
- Work with local authorities and communities to take ownership and sustain services over time.
Creating jobs for young people
We also support young people to earn a living while keeping services running.
- Train youth to repair and maintain water systems.
- Support small local businesses that provide maintenance and technical services.
Cross-sector connections: How WASH supports our other work
- WASH + child protection – safe toilets and nearby water points reduce the risks girls face when walking long distances or using unsafe latrines.
- WASH + health and nutrition – clean water and good hygiene prevent diarrhoea and malnutrition helping children grow, stay healthy, and attend school.
- WASH + education – schools with safe toilets and menstrual hygiene support keep girls in class, reduce dropout rates, and improve learning outcomes.
- WASH + sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) – clean water and safe facilities are essential for dignified menstrual health, safe childbirth, antenatal care, and youth‑friendly health services.
- WASH + food and livelihoods (FSL) – safe water supports farming, livestock, and income‑generating activities while reducing the time women and girls spend collecting water.
- WASH + gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) – we design inclusive systems that meet the needs of women, girls, and people with disabilities because equal access to WASH is a foundation for equality across all areas of life.
What this looks like in real life
We support communities move from short-term solutions to reliable, long-lasting services.
Reaching schools and communities
- Clean and safe water systems installed in schools, helping hundreds of girls attend and learn with dignity
- Thousands of households now live in clean and safe environments.
Reliable water for tens of thousands
- Solar-powered water systems are providing year-round water to more than 55,000 people
- Additional projects have reached over 68,000 people, improving water access, farming, and health.
Stronger local management
- Youth-led businesses are helping maintain systems and keep services running
- Community groups many led by women now manage water systems, set fair prices, and handle repairs.
Clean water. Safe sanitation. Dignity for all.
Until we are all equal.
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