WASH
Facilitating access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Madagascar, an island rich in biodiversity and culture, faces significant challenges in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Despite notable progress in recent years, many communities, especially in rural areas, still suffer from precarious conditions that jeopardize their health and well-being.
The Amoron'i Mania, Haute Matsiatra, Vatovavy, and Fitovinany Regions, located in the heart of Madagascar, face this reality. These areas, characterized by their geographical and cultural diversity, often suffer from limited access to reliable drinking water resources and adequate sanitation facilities.
What we do
Access to clean water and sanitary challenges
Access to clean water remains limited in Madagascar, with a large part of the population lacking access to reliable and often contaminated water sources, leading to waterborne diseases. Water supply projects and watershed protection are underway, but needs remain significant.
Sanitation and public health
Sanitation is also a major challenge, with many households lacking adequate sanitation facilities, which promotes the spread of diseases like cholera and diarrhea. Improving hygiene conditions is crucial for community health.
Community initiatives and collaboration
Ny Tanintsika supports local initiatives to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) management, with training and infrastructure projects to strengthen community capacities. Collaboration between communities, local authorities, and international partners is crucial for a sustainable impact.
By improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, these actions contribute to public health, economic growth, and the well-being of communities.
Our impact in numbers
Water points installed
reliable water sources
Households benefiting
families served
Improved latrines
sanitation facilities
ODF Villages
sanitized communities
Our field actions
RANO RO AINA
Since 2009, Ny Tanintsika has launched a drinking water supply program focused on installing boreholes and hand pumps, most of which are manufactured locally in Madagascar.
The organization now has three drilling teams, trained by the PRACTICA Foundation in 'Rotasludge' and 'Rotary jetting' drilling techniques, which use human power to drill.
Boreholes are primarily installed in schools and Basic Health Centers to ensure access to clean water for all, without ownership conflicts. This allows rural populations to benefit from a nearby water point, giving them the opportunity to devote more time to their income-generating activities. Currently, we have also begun solar-powered water supply systems.
WASH awareness
Awareness sessions on good WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practices are organized for all beneficiaries, including households, students, and teachers, to optimize the impact of our intervention. These sessions focus mainly on the importance of handwashing with soap, proper toilet use, and drinking safe water.
Sustainability strategies
To ensure the durability of the installed infrastructure, several sustainability strategies have been adopted, such as training local repairers, operationalizing water point management associations, and periodic monitoring by local authorities.
RANO WASH: IMPROVING ACCESS TO WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE
Ny Tanintsika implements the USAID RANO WASH project in the Vatovavy Fitovinany region. This project aims to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services in rural areas of Madagascar.
RANO WASH, which stands for 'Rural Access to New Opportunities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene,' is a five-year initiative launched to strengthen access to clean water for vulnerable populations, especially girls, women, and people with disabilities.
For the Vatovavy Fitovinany Region, 65 communes across 4 districts—Ifanadiana, Ikongo, Manakara, and Vohipeno—are beneficiaries.
Strengthening WASH governance and monitoring
We have supported communes in integrating the WASH sector into their annual budget and accompanied them in their commitment to WASH activities, while facilitating the management of their partnerships with the private sector. The establishment of the Technical Service for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (STEAH) has been a key element of our intervention, along with the development of their Communal Development Plan for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (PCDEAH), and the revitalization of local consultation structures.
Increasing private sector engagement in WASH services
Various strategies have been implemented to ensure more people have access to basic drinking water services and safe water management. However, insufficient private investment in water infrastructure construction and heavy reliance on public programs hinder the expansion of water access for the population. Nevertheless, through the promotion of VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Associations), members are beginning to actively engage in taking ownership of clean water, thus promoting service sustainability.
Increasing adoption of healthy behaviors and use of WASH services
For sanitation services, the CLTS (Community-Led Total Sanitation) approach, involving local masons (ML), has been adopted to encourage latrine use, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable environment and contributing to better population health. Through this approach, villages have achieved ODF (Open Defecation Free) status. Periodic visits by Local Hygiene Promoters (PL) also encourage community mobilization by promoting latrine use and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Additionally, supporting institutions to become 'WASH-Friendly Institutions' contributes to the widespread adoption of WASH practices and services within institutional structures.