Implemented across the seven municipalities of Yaoundé, the Yaoundé Sanitation Project Phase 2 (PADY 2) aims to bring about a sustainable improvement in residents’ living conditions through the development of urban sanitation services and the strengthening of local authorities’ capacities. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure and services put in place, a major Information, Education and Communication (IEC) component has been rolled out to raise public awareness of issues relating to hygiene, sanitation, waste management and the prevention of environmental risks.

Type of services provided

• Conducting a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey to establish the baseline situation.

• Development and implementation of the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy.
• Production of awareness-raising materials and training of community outreach workers.
• Conducting mass communication, community-based and advocacy campaigns targeting households, schools, health centres, markets and local stakeholders.
• Raising awareness of good practices in hygiene, sanitation, waste management and flood risk prevention.
• Strengthening local authorities’ capacity in urban sanitation and community mobilisation.
• Supporting the establishment of a pre-collection waste service and the associated technical studies.

In several countries along the West African coast, growing pressure on water resources, combined with the effects of climate change, demographic trends and institutional weaknesses, can exacerbate tensions between water users and undermine the resilience of certain regions. Against this backdrop, USAID has launched a study aimed at analysing the links between water resource availability, governance mechanisms in the sector and conflict dynamics in the areas concerned.

This research has identified risk factors, resilience mechanisms and opportunities for intervention to guide the design of future development and stabilisation programmes in the region.

Type of services provided

• Conducting a literature and sectoral review on water resources, their governance and conflict dynamics.

• Analysing hydrological, hydrogeological and institutional data at regional level.
• Conducting interviews with institutional, technical and community stakeholders.
• Collecting field data through focus group discussions in the study areas.
• Organisation and facilitation of consultation workshops and sessions to present findings.
• Identification of risk factors and drivers of resilience related to water management.
• Preparation of a strategic brief to guide USAID’s future programming and investments.

As part of São Tomé and Príncipe’s national water supply strategy, a major investment programme aims to bring about a sustainable improvement in access to drinking water for the inhabitants of the city of São Tomé and its outlying neighbourhoods. The project aims to optimise existing infrastructure, improve service quality and meet the growing needs of the population, whilst contributing to public health, local economic development and the reduction of inequalities in access to water.

Hydroconseil is supporting the Empresa de Água e Electricidade (EMAE) in the implementation of this water supply project, funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB), by strengthening the capacity of the project management unit and ensuring the proper execution of the various technical, environmental and social components.

Type of services provided

• Technical assistance to the project management unit for the management and implementation of the investment programme.

• Support for procurement and the administrative, technical and financial monitoring of the project.
• Support for monitoring the works to upgrade the water supply system.
• Ensuring that environmental and social requirements are taken into account.
• Development and roll-out of the project’s communication plan in accordance with the European Investment Bank’s requirements.
• Preparation of terms of reference for strategic studies in the water sector (resource monitoring, commercial strategy and connection policy).
• Capacity building for EMAE in project management and water services governance.

As part of the DJIRESA project funded by the World Bank, Djibouti is rolling out an ambitious programme aimed at improving access to drinking water in rural areas, strengthening communities’ climate resilience and professionalising the management of water services. The project includes, in particular, the construction and rehabilitation of water infrastructure, the strengthening of the Directorate of Rural Water Supply (DHR), and the improvement of groundwater resource management.

To ensure the quality, consistency and sustainability of investments made in the sector, Hydroconseil is supporting the DHR in drawing up a national reference manual governing the design, construction, operation and maintenance of rural water infrastructure.

Type of services provided

• Conducting a technical, institutional and documentary assessment of the rural water sector.

• Conducting consultations with institutional stakeholders, operators and beneficiary communities.
• Developing a national manual on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of rural water infrastructure.
• Defining technical standards, design criteria and project validation procedures.
• Development of an operation and maintenance guide and a harmonised database of unit costs.
• Design of a digital tool to facilitate the dissemination and use of the manual by sector stakeholders.
• Support for the institutionalisation of the national framework and capacity building for stakeholders.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, access to improved sanitation facilities remains limited, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. As part of the Programme for Access to Water and Sanitation Services (PASEA), funded by the World Bank, the Congolese authorities wish to expand the range of sanitation products and services on offer in order to encourage households to adopt sustainable solutions.

This mission aimed to analyse the sanitation market in the provinces of Kwilu, Kasai, Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental, to identify barriers to the sector’s development and to propose solutions tailored to the needs of the local population. The objective was to organise supply chains, support local stakeholders and develop viable business models for the promotion and marketing of improved latrines.

Type of services provided

• Conducting an in-depth study of the sanitation market in the provinces targeted by the programme.

• Analysing the supply chain for sanitation-related materials, equipment and services.
• Assessing household demand, existing practices and the socio-economic factors influencing access to sanitation.
• Examination of fiscal mechanisms and opportunities for developing the sanitation market.
• Design of several latrine models suited to rural and peri-urban contexts, using a user-centred approach (Human-Centred Design).
• Assessment of the construction and maintenance costs of the various options proposed.
• Development and testing of business models for the construction and installation of latrines by local contractors.
• Formulation of operational recommendations to strengthen the commercialisation of sanitation products and services.
• Development of guides, training tools and support mechanisms for stakeholders in the sector.
• Design of multilingual communication and awareness-raising materials to promote improved sanitation practices to mark World Toilet Day.

In Palestine, the sanitation and treated wastewater reuse (REUT) sectors are home to numerous initiatives, studies and institutional stakeholders, but continue to face challenges relating to coordination, governance and implementation. In order to promote more effective and sustainable water resource management, it was necessary to gain a comprehensive overview of the sector and to identify the priority reforms to be undertaken.

Hydroconseil carried out an in-depth assessment of the sanitation and REUT sectors to highlight the strengths, constraints and needs of the key stakeholders. This analysis served as the basis for the design of the WaDIS programme, an institutional support and technical assistance programme aimed at sustainably strengthening the management, governance and development of treated wastewater reuse in Palestine.

Type of services provided

• Conducting a comprehensive sectoral and institutional assessment of the sanitation and wastewater treatment sectors.

• Analysing the strategic, regulatory and organisational frameworks governing wastewater management.
• Assessing governance mechanisms, economic models, and social and gender issues.
• Assessing the institutional capacities of the main government departments and operators in the sector.
• Identification of capacity-building needs and development of a dedicated strategy.
• Design of the WaDIS programme, including its logical framework, objectives, activities and implementation timetable.
• Development of a gender action plan integrated into the programme’s activities.
• Preparation of the detailed budget, financing plan and procurement strategy.
• Drafting of the programme’s procedures manual to facilitate its implementation and management.

After several years of conflict, the city of Mosul, which has a population of nearly 1.7 million, faces significant challenges in ensuring a reliable and efficient drinking water service. As part of the programme to modernise the city’s water services, the sectorisation of the distribution network has been identified as a priority in order to improve the management of unaccounted-for water and strengthen the network’s operational capacity.

Hydroconseil supported the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ninawa Water Directorate (DoW) in the design and implementation of four pilot District Metered Areas (DMAs). The aim was to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in improving knowledge of the network, optimising demand management and reducing water losses, whilst preparing for its wider roll-out across the entire city.

Type of services provided

• Update of the sectorisation strategy for the Mosul drinking water network and development of an operational plan for the roll-out of water supply zones.

• Analysis of existing data and definition of indicators for monitoring performance and unaccounted-for water.
• Technical and hydraulic studies of the pilot sectors.
• Design of four pilot DMAs and development of the associated technical specifications.
• Support to the Ninawa Water Directorate in supervising the works and commissioning the pilot sectors.
• Development of water balance models and performance monitoring tools.
• Assessment of the impact of sectorisation on water demand management and the reduction of losses.
• Capacity building for technical and operational teams.
• Organisation of training workshops on the management of non-revenue water (NRW) and best practices in sectorisation.
• Design and distribution of training materials and communication tools to promote the adoption of methods and the consolidation of knowledge.

Access to safe drinking water remains a major challenge in Burundi. REGIDESO, the national company responsible for water production and distribution in urban areas, faces a number of technical, organisational and financial challenges that affect the quality, continuity and efficiency of the service provided to users.

As part of the Emergency Urban Resilience Project funded by the World Bank, Hydroconseil supported REGIDESO in developing and implementing a performance improvement plan aimed at sustainably strengthening the management and operation of water services. This project enabled the definition, in collaboration with senior management and operational teams, of shared performance objectives and a structured roadmap to improve service quality and ensure the operator’s long-term viability.

Type of service provided :

• Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the technical, commercial, financial and organisational performance of water services.

• Collecting and analysing field data and conducting interviews with internal and external stakeholders.
• Organising and facilitating consultation workshops with REGIDESO management.
• Defining performance targets and monitoring indicators using a participatory approach.
• Development of a Performance Improvement Plan and a Staff Training Plan.
• Design of a strategy to reduce non-revenue water (NRW).
• Definition of technical, administrative, financial and commercial management tools.
• Support for improving water quality control and the certification of the analysis laboratory.
• Implementation of a system for monitoring performance and evaluating results.

Libya faces extreme water stress due to its arid climate, limited surface water resources, and heavy reliance on groundwater, a largely non-renewable resource. To address the growing challenges related to water availability, increasing demand across sectors, and the impacts of climate change, the Government of National Unity initiated the development of a National Water Security Strategy based on the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The strategy aims to ensure the sustainable use of water resources, strengthen the sector’s resilience, and improve water governance at the national level.

In Mexico, many children suffer the consequences of limited access to drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities in their schools. In the states of Nuevo León and Chihuaha, each home to 5.3 million inhabitants, this problem affects not only health, but also the quality of the educational environment and the well-being of pupils.

In response to these challenges, UNICEF, in collaboration with CAWST, is implementing the Three Star model. This innovative approach is not limited to improving infrastructure: it aims to transform schools into sustainable environments, by integrating the teaching, practice and consolidation of healthy behaviours related to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The WASH conditions of each school were assessed using the Three Star model, enabling them to be ranked from 0 to 3 stars according to their infrastructure, access to essential services and the behavioural practices in place.

Methodology and implementation

 

1. Data collection and analysis

– Assessment of conditions in 15 schools in Nuevo León and 50 schools in Chihuahua, with pilot tests to refine the tools.

– Procedures were devised to facilitate on-site collection of agents, structuring and capitalisation of data.

2. Local capacity building

– Alignment of criteria with SDG standards and adaptation to the local context.

– Training of local players to ensure the sustainability of the project.

3. Capitalisation and recommendations

– Validation of data, drafting of a technical report and development of a targeted action plan for each school.

Results and expected impact

– A healthy and safe school environment: schools become exemplary in terms of water and sanitation management.

– Promote sustainable habits: education and the daily practice of healthy behaviours reinforce the long-term impact.

– Provide a methodology that can be replicated: the Three Star approach and the tools developed make it possible to replicate these initiatives in other regions.

By integrating infrastructure, behavioural change and training, this project provides a clear vision of the state and needs of each school and lays the foundations for a future where every child can learn, grow and flourish in optimal conditions.