A Project Waterfall initiative in the Jabi Tehnan region of Ethiopia has concluded, providing improved access to clean water supply for 10,571 people in the local coffee growing community
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Coffee farming provides a livelihood for approximately 15 million Ethiopians, nearly 15% of the population | Photo credit: WaterAid
Project Waterfall has completed a four-year project in Jabi Tehnan, Ethiopia, providing the local coffee-growing community with improved water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Project Waterfall says that the Jabi Tehnan project, launched in 2018 in collaboration with WaterAid, has provided improved access to safe water supply for 10,571 people, alongside better hygiene knowledge, skills and awareness.
The project has also increased access to improved and basic sanitation for 10,416 people in the villages of the Jabi Tehnan district, renowned for producing high-quality coffee.
Among the project beneficiaries are a local high school and primary school which now have access to proper toilets, a shower and handwashing facilities. A 100m3 reservoir and a water pumping system operated by solar energy have also been implemented, alongside the establishment of a Rural Water User Association.
Coffee farming provides a livelihood for approximately 15 million Ethiopians, nearly 15% of the population. However, only 39% of Ethiopia has access to basic safe water and just 7% has access to basic sanitation.
The project, which completed in March 2022, provided training to local government and local health workers. By involving community members in the construction process, Project Waterfall intends to create an awareness and legacy that also aids the community’s future generations.
"I am delighted to announce that our project in Ethiopia has been completed and over 10,000 people in the community now have access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for the first time. I’m incredibly proud of our team and delivery partners for working tirelessly to make this happen and would like to thank all of our supporters in the coffee industry for believing in this project and helping us bring it to life," said Rebecca Hodgson, Director, Project Waterfall.
Since 2011, Project Waterfall, part of The Allegra Foundation, has raised over £1.5m and helped provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene knowledge to 50,000 people in Nicaragua, Tanzania, Rwanda, Vietnam, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.