The IFRC supports National Societies to deliver a range of long-term (typically three to five year) programmes that increase people’s access to, and improve, WASH services.

Crucially, we work in partnership with communities—fully engaging them in the design, implementation, operation and maintenance of WASH systems and facilities. This gives our projects the best chance of being sustained financially and technically long into the future.

Examples of our long-term WASH projects:

In Ghana, our innovative Ghana Sustainable WASH (Gha-WASH) project, in partnership with Nestle, has been running since 2015. Gha-WASH aims to make sustainable WASH services available to tens of thousands of people across the country and reduce WASH-related diseases. We’re using solar-powered water supply systems that dispense water using a cashless revenue collection system. Each water vending point measures the amount of water purchased and the amount of revenue collected, which can be monitored via a cloud-based system.

Since 2020, the IFRC has been working with the Zambian and Malawi Red Cross Societies to develop what we call Branch Rapid Response Teams in cholera hotspots. In line with cholera national plans in both countries, these teams provide ongoing training and pre-position oral rehydration points within communities so that oral rehydration therapy can be provided immediately when an outbreak occurs. During periods of no live outbreaks, these teams work with community volunteers to map WASH coverage and key gaps. They also carry out community chlorination of water supplies and promote good household water treatment and storage as a preventive measure to keep communities safe.