Evaluation Report: Mid-term Evaluation of the Community-led Accelerated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project in Ethiopia, Phase IV (COWASH IV)

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned an external mid-term evaluation of the Community-led Accelerated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project in Ethiopia, Phase IV (COWASH IV) in 2023.

The objective of the bilateral project is increased and sustained coverage of safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene in rural areas of Ethiopia. COWASH project is the lead implementer of Community Managed Project (CMP) approach.

The mid-term evaluation concluded that the project is relevant and it has achieved its halfway objectives well despite the delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and conflict in northern Ethiopia. Gender equality, empowerment of women and disability inclusion have been integrated into the project.

The mid-term evaluation recommended to focus on capacity building and participation of women at the local level. In the latter half of the project, attention should be paid to sanitation, water safety planning, and construction quality. Moreover, one recommendation was that the project should be extended by nine months. By observing the conclusions and recommendations made by the evaluation, the project will further enhance the implementation for better achievement of the set objectives.

Evaluation report

Mid-term Evaluation of the Community-Led Accelerated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project in Ethiopia, Phase IV (ECOWASH IV). (PDF, 4.5 MB)