Integrated Hygiene and Sanitation Strategies for Enhanced Elementary School Environments in Ethiopia & Ghana
 

Cooperating countries: Ethiopia, Ghana and Austria

Coordinating institution: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Claudia Probst Claudia.probst@fh-wels.at

Partner institution: Debre Markos University, University for Development Studies

Project duration: 1 October 2025 - 30 September 2027

Abstract: 
Inadequate hygiene and sanitation in elementary schools, especially in Ethiopia and Ghana, pose significant health and educational challenges. This project, titled Integrated Hygiene and Sanitation Strategies for Enhanced Elementary School Environments, aims to address these issues through a comprehensive approach. It integrates UNICEFs Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) educational strategies, behavioral interventions, governance strategies, and community engagement. Targeting rural and peri-urban schools, the initiative focuses on gender-sensitive WASH infrastructure management, hygiene education, and stakeholder collaboration to enhance health outcomes and educational performance among children.

The proposed strategies are built on three key pillars: hygiene education, WASH governances, and stakeholder collaboration. The project will develop and implement cost-effective solutions, such as eco-friendly WASH governances’ strategies and incorporate hygiene education programs into school routines and/ or curricula. Emphasizing participatory methods, the initiative will engage stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability and local ownership. Leveraging innovative monitoring and evaluation frameworks, the project will measure outcomes such as reductions in waterborne diseases, improved student attendance, and shifts in hygiene practices. 

By creating a replicable model for hygiene and sanitation improvements in elementary schools, this initiative has the potential to significantly impact child health, gender equality, and educational achievement in Ethiopia and Ghana. Partnering with local governments, NGOs, school boards, and community groups, this initiative aims to contribute to improving health indicators which will influence student performance and ensure gender equity, while responding to the specific Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 3 (Good Health, Well-Being), SDG 4 (quality education), and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation).