Provision of timely equitable access to safe Water, adequate Sanitation and Hygiene education and mitigation of WASH-related gender based violence among the targeted populations in Rubkona County, Unity State. The proposed intervention will address three key thematic areas which include:- i) provision of access to safe water of sufficient quantity for drinking and domestic purposes, basic sanitation and increase knowledge of appropriate hygiene practices to prevent and mitigate WASH-related diseases including Covid-19 ii) GBV mainstreaming to ensure safe access to WASH facilities through dignified and gender appropriate sanitation services and iii) capacity building support for the project beneficiaries for the purposes of recovery and project sustainability.
The proposed 9 months intervention will reach a target of 13,000 vulnerable host communities, internally displaced persons and returnees in Rubkona County. The target groups include: - 2600men, 3250women, 3510boys and 3640girls and people with disabilities. SPEDP will provide access to timely, equitable access to safe water supply through rehabilitation of 20 boreholes and 2 mini water yards in Rubkona with the highest population densities within 500m walking distance. 21 Water User Committees will be established at each rehabilitated water point, to provide ongoing maintenance of the water points, fencing and maintain social distancing to prevent spread of Covid-19. Training of 40 new or existing pump mechanics to ensure continuous operation and maintenance of water facilities. Water quality test for 22 water points will be conducted to ascertain the quality of water safe for human consumption with lt10 FCU/100ml (SPHERE 2018). Basic sanitation will be improved through construction of 35 shared households’ latrines and community sensitization to construct household latrines or use CAT sanitation methods for safe excreta disposal. Solid waste management through clean up campaigns to remove existing debris in public places. SPEDP will identify and train 26 hygiene promoters from the communities to disseminate key hygiene messages on hand washing with soap or ash at critical times domestic hygiene (food handling) safe excreta/solid disposal water protection and environmental hygiene to reach 13,000 people. One hygiene promoter will reach 500 people and outreach activities will be done through mass education, drama, use of IEC materials, door-to-door awareness visits by hygiene promoters and playing pre-recorded messages through megaphones. SPEDP supervisors stationed in Rubkona will supervise the hygiene promoters on weekly basis. 1000HH will receive soap, a 20L bucket, PUR sachets to purify drinking water for an average of 6 members per HH, filter cloth, and storage container for storing clean/purified drinking water. Women and girls being the direct primary users of Water and sanitation facilities, their involvement throughout the project life cycle will be prioritized. Focus groups discussions with women and girls will be conducted by SPEDP GBV female staff as part of consultations in order to prevent GBV risks while accessing WASH facilities. Menstrual hygiene management items and informative sessions on menstruation management will be avail to school girls so that girls will not miss attending classes during their periods. Additionally, SPEDP will construct hand washing stations at market entrance and community level to promotion regular hand washing to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus (COVID 19) among the targeted people as one case is already recorded in Rubkona. 
All the WASH temporary and sustainable services will address the vital needs, public health and protection issues through accountability to affected populations (AAP) community approach to target the acute vulnerabilities based on their needs. Proper coordination and consultation will take place with the project relevant actors (local authorities, partners and community to maximize use of relief resources.