Cleaner Cities, Brighter Futures: Ethiopia's Journey in Urban Sanitation

Six years ago, Lubaba Mohammed returned to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after years working abroad as a housemaid. Struggling to find employment, she registered as unemployed with the local "woreda" (city administration). This decision marked the start of an unexpected journey in urban sanitation.

She joined a micro-enterprise "Tsehay, Mehret and Friends," comprising eight women and two men. Their mission? To manage a newly established public toilet facility in the bustling Arat Kilo neighborhood, near a university campus.

Initially, the project faced skepticism. Lubaba recalls, "It took us about two years to change people’s perception and get them to start paying for using the toilet. They were used to the other poorly maintained free public toilets or were simply relieving themselves out in the open." However, through persistence and dedicated maintenance, public opinion started to shift. Now, the facility is a symbol of cleanliness and community pride.

This transformation extended beyond just sanitation. "Before, this area was marred by open defecation and roadside waste," Lubaba notes. "Now, it’s clean.” The team also diversified their service by setting up a stand selling bottled water, coffee, tea, and snacks, tapping into the nearby student population. While the earnings are modest, they have enabled Lubaba to support her family and send her two children to school. To increase their income, the members of the micro-enterprise would like to set up a shower facility, and install a shade above their coffee stand, catering to the high demand from students and locals.

This facility is one of 1000 similar sanitation projects that have been built in Addis Ababa and 22 other cities across the country with the support of the World Bank through the Second Ethiopia Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The project is funded through the International Development Association (IDA), the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries.

"The first thing we tried to do through this project is to change the attitude of people regarding sanitation. This is what I am most proud of," says Frehiwot Zewdie, Project Coordinator within Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy. "Before this project happened, many of the higher officials did not understand the sanitation situation and the effects of inadequate sanitation in the country. Today, most officials and people have positive views on sanitation. Of course, this must be accompanied by the right infrastructure, otherwise awareness building on its own will not bring any change.”

The scope of the project is extensive, including sanitation facilities in health centers, schools, and community housing. These facilities cater to diverse needs, featuring separate sections for men and women, accessible stalls for the physically disabled, and special menstrual hygiene cubicles in schools where girls have access to showers and menstrual hygiene products. This has increased girls’ attendance at school and reduced dropouts resulting in increased school performance.

Additionally, the project addresses water wastage and leakage, enhancing overall water management and operational efficiency. To date, over 685,000 people have gained access to safe sanitation, with nearly 690,000 benefiting from improved water sources.

The project’s impact extends to wastewater management, too. The Kality wastewater treatment plant, upgraded and modernized through this initiative, now treats up to 100,000 cubic meters per day. It features a modern water and wastewater quality lab, ensuring environmental compliance and repurposing treated water for irrigation.

Engineer Zerihun Abate, General Manager of the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), emphasizes the broader implications: “this has introduced a new way of thinking in our country because other towns have taken this experience and want to build like this. We are also a good example for East Africa because we are generating biogas and non-hazardous sludge which can be utilized as fertilizer.”

The project also facilitated the procurement of 90 vacuum trucks, streamlining sanitation services. Abate underscores the bigger picture: “Investing in water is investing in health, equity, and the future, particularly for the poor and women in developing countries.”

Looking to the future, the success of this sanitation project which deals with the complete sanitation chain – from containment to treatment and reuse – in Addis Ababa and in 22 secondary towns serves as a blueprint for urban development across Ethiopia and beyond. It illustrates the immense potential of well-planned urban infrastructure projects to enhance public health, environmental sustainability, and social wellbeing. As Ethiopia continues to quickly grow and urbanize, initiatives like this one pave the way for a future where every resident has access to clean water and sanitation, thereby building inclusive, sustainable cities for generations to come.