CO-WASH Support to DRC Refugees This project will provide adequate and safe water supply, promote hygiene practices, provide appropriate sanitation facilities, reduce environmental health risks and ensure conditions that allow approximately 338,881  refugees and hosting populations in Kyaka II,Rwamwanja and Kyangwali to live with good health, dignity, comfort and safety.

Average water supply across the three settlements of Kyaka II, Rwamwanja and Kyangwali is currently at 13.1 l/p/d with Rwamwanja posting 14.6 l/p/d, followed by Kyaka II at 13.9 l/p/dand then Kyangwali at 10.9 l/p/d; with water trucking constituting 0.9% of the water supply in Kyaka II, 1% in Kyangwali and 0.1% in Rwamwanja respectively (UNHCR Gap Matrix, October 2021). One of the WASH sector key strategic priorities is to eliminate water trucking which is costly and unreliable. Upgrade and development of existing water sources by both operational and implementing partners will present additional challenges related to cost of operation and maintenance. On average, only 11.3% of piped water supplied isby solar energy,10.7% from grid power and 78% is by fuel driven pumping systems, making cost of water production very high. Low groundwater potential in Kyaka and Rwamwanja is a bottleneck to water provision. Currently, most of the water systems are being manageddirectly by UNHCR and/through partners. Efforts are underway to set up sustainable management models for operation and maintenance (O<(>&<)>M) with gradual transitioning to a utility approach, through integration with existing government systems. Catchment degradation remains a major bottleneck and a risk to sustainable groundwater recharge and supplies.  All interventions planned under this objective, target an increase in per capita access to water supply from 13.1 l/p/d to 17 l/p/d, which is close to the UNHCR water supply standard of 20 l/p/d.

Crude household Latrine coverage across the three settlements averages 65%, which is still far below theUNHCR standard of 85% and Ugandan National standard of 100%; with Kyaka II at 66%, Kyangwali at 59% and Rwamwanja at 79% (Settlement Sanitation Matrices, October 2021). Efforts will continue to scale up the dome-shaped slab production and increase latrine construction to achieve 75% latrine coverage, on average. Majority of the refugees who are women and children (over 80%) still face numerous barriers to access and inclusion in WASH programming. Latrine construction at household level cannot be effectively completed given the numerous child and women headed households and PSNs, needing direct assistance to construct latrines of acceptable structural strength.

At institutional level, latrine access levels are generally low. Faecal sludge management remains a critical gap with only one treatment facility in Kyaka II and none in Rwamwanja and Kyangwali refugee settlements and in all the settlement hosting districts. Costs of hiring cesspool emptiers continue to be exorbitant and unsustainable, as faecal sludge has to be extracted using gulpers on a small scale and major institutional desludging relay on transporting sludge across districts for disposal. Despite recognisable efforts by the operation, WASH NFI distribution, soap, water storage containers, and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) materials is still below recommended Sphere minimum standards owing to budgetary limitations. In most institutions, MHM spaces are either unavailable, lacking in hygiene supplies like soap and water, or not safe/private for girls to use.

Solid waste management especially in markets, trading centres and other public places, still remain a challenge with the need to strengthen and equip the solid waste management committees/voluntary groups for improved efficiency and effectiveness in execution of their roles. Community based structures such as VHTs need to be strengthened to step up the community mobilization interventions for improved sanitation and hygiene at household level. All interventions planned under this objective, target an increase in household latrine coverage from 65% to at least 80%.

Water supply approaches will look at onboarding community structures through the transition process by strengthening thewater supply and sanitation board (WSSB), water user committees, handpumps mechanics association. Our Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion will be approached through creating livelihood opportunities via sanitation marketing, barrier analysis and child centered hygiene promotion. Crosscutting issues such as natural resource use and water source conflicts, peaceful coexistence, inclusion and gender will be mainstreamed through the WASH interventions as well as ensuring there is responsible environment and natural resource management through Water Source Protection Plans and ongoing Monitoring. Learning will be undertaken through research, testing innovative approaches such as Lamella clarifier, low-cost faecal sludge treatment systems, Prepaid Water Dispensing, Vermi compositing to degrade solid waste). Linkages and working with local partners and community engagement will be critical in WASH service provision.

The program output looks at ensuring refugee and host settlements have access to adequate and safe water, adequate and appropriate sanitary facilities along with increased promotion of good hygiene practices thereby improving lives by limiting the spread of illness and disease.