Thematic Areas > Thematic Areas of Focus >> WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are directly related to the health, well-being, education and opportunity for children and their families. While 70% of the earth is water less than 1% of that is available freshwater for human consumption.

The quality of freshwater resources is threatened by pollution and climate change has impacted rainfall variability meaning that water access is not certain in many parts of the world. Without access to clean and local water, sanitation and hygiene, many children in developing countries become sick from water-related diseases and miss school. Further, girls’ sanitation needs are often not met and the gender education divide is furthered as adolescent girls may drop out or fall behind at school.

ECI’s WASH-related interventions, include the following fundamental principles:

• Affirmation of the human right to water and sanitation

• Local action to improve child health and reduce prevalence of water-borne diseases

• Goal toward improving primary school attendance and secondary school retention of adolescent girls

• Consideration for social norms and attention to gender equality  associated with water resource management, access to sanitation and hygiene education

ECI currently works in Ghana and Nigeria with our in country program managers and WASH facilitators to develop participatory tools and training for WASH in schools with children.