Municipality Scoping Assessment of Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Ethiopian Secondary Cities Using Modified WASH Systems Building Blocks Framework

Abstract

The research aimed to assess the urban water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems enabling environment in ten selected Ethiopian secondary cities. It comprises Adama, Bahir Dar, Bishoftu, Dessie, Dire Dawa, Harar, Hawassa, Kombolcha, Mekelle, and Shashemene cities. The study used a two-phase assessment, integrating the USAID Urban WASH Activity with the modified WASH Systems Building Blocks Framework adapted from the Sustainable Services Initiative (SSI), Agenda for Change (AfC). A cross-sectional mixed-methods municipal scoping assessment was carried out from March 6 to April 16, 2023, using desk reviews, field evaluations, and stakeholder mapping. Semi-structured key informant interviews were also conducted with representatives from water utilities, municipal administrations, and all concerned sector offices, as well as community stakeholders. Nine WASH system building blocks containing 54 indicators were used for assessment and evaluation, applying a predefined three-point scoring scheme (0, 0.5, and 1). The results showed that the overall WASH-enabling environment was rated moderately in most cities, with significant institutional capacity differences between them. Bishoftu showed the highest overall enabling environment (70.13%), while Mekelle scored the lowest (49.03%). All cities received excellent ratings for having defined institutional mandates and roles for all municipal stakeholders, specific WASH sector policies, legal frameworks and standards, methods for users to complain, and inclusive planning. The absence of bylaws, inadequate cross-sectoral coordination among WASH stakeholders, a lack of technical and administrative capacity to manage sanitation and hygiene, and limited budgeting resulted in poor assessment outcomes in all cities. The study concluded that systems-thinking approaches are a promising tool for diagnosing governance challenges and directing policy decisions in rapidly growing cities in a developing country (Ethiopia) that faces WASH challenges.