Analyzing and Improving Collaboration Among WASH Stakeholders in Ethiopia

This analysis will be used to support and evaluate SWS efforts to improve local water and sanitation service sustainability. SWS is currently working in three WASH systems in Ethiopia: the rural water systems in the woredas (districts) of South Ari (South Omo zone) and Mille (Afar region), and the urban sanitation system of Woliso (a small town in the Oromia region). In each of these locales, SWS identified organizations (NGOs, public institutions, academic institutions, and private sector) actively contributing to the provision of WASH services to participate in a Learning Alliance. The goal of each Learning Alliance is to increase collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders for improved efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of local WASH services. SWS selected and trained a local community member, referred to as a “local facilitator,” to guide the Learning Alliance through a process to design and implement a strategy to achieve the Learning Alliance’s goals. Improving the underlying structure of the network of relationships among Learning Alliance participants is a critical part of the Learning Alliance approach. LINC carried out an ONA of local WASH stakeholder organizations selected for participation in each Learning Alliance. The objective of this analysis was to understand the current network of relationships among these organizations to inform Learning Alliance goals, activities, and structures, and to provide a baseline for tracking changes in the network over time.