Executive Summary
Access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services remains a persistent challenge in many underserved districts of Uganda, particularly in schools and surrounding communities. While infrastructure coverage has improved in recent years, systemic weaknesses in operation, maintenance, monitoring, and district-level coordination continue to undermine service functionality and long-term impact. Inadequate school WASH services contribute to poor health outcomes, increased absenteeism, and reduced learning opportunities—especially for girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
This project proposes a scalable, district-anchored approach to improving education and health outcomes by linking school-level WASH improvements with district-led systems strengthening. Moving beyond one-off construction, the intervention embeds WASH service delivery within existing government structures, strengthens institutional capacity, and scales proven operational models that ensure long-term functionality, accountability, and sustainability. The project is designed in close alignment with Uganda’s National Development Plan III, national WASH and education sector strategies, and decentralized service delivery frameworks.
Over a 24-month period, the project will be implemented in selected underserved districts, working in partnership with District Water Offices, education authorities, school management committees, and local service providers. Key interventions include strengthening district planning, coordination, and monitoring systems; upgrading and rehabilitating education-linked WASH facilities in targeted schools; promoting sustained hygiene behaviors through structured behavior change communication; and scaling an operational WASH service delivery model that supports routine maintenance and rapid repairs. Gender equity, inclusion, and climate resilience are integrated across all components.
The project will directly benefit an estimated 10,000–15,000 students, teachers, and community members, while also strengthening the capacity of district institutions responsible for WASH service delivery. Improved access to safe water, dignified sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools is expected to lead to improved attendance, healthier learning environments, and reduced vulnerability to preventable diseases. At the district level, enhanced use of data, stronger coordination, and clearer accountability mechanisms will support more effective and sustainable WASH service management.
With a proposed budget of USD 150,000–300,000, the project offers a high-value investment opportunity for donors seeking measurable, system-level impact. By demonstrating a replicable model that integrates service delivery, institutional strengthening, and behavior change, the project will generate evidence and lessons that can inform future scale-up across additional districts. Ultimately, the intervention aims to contribute to lasting improvements in WASH functionality, educational participation, and public health outcomes in Uganda, while strengthening local ownership and capacity to sustain these gains beyond the project period.
Problem Statement
Despite national progress in water and sanitation coverage, many rural districts in Uganda continue to face low functionality of water points, inadequate school WASH facilities, and weak district-level systems for service delivery and monitoring. Schools in underserved areas lack reliable water supply, gender-responsive sanitation facilities, and hygiene infrastructure, contributing to poor attendance, especially among girls, and increased vulnerability to preventable diseases.
Current WASH interventions are often infrastructure-heavy and one-off, with limited attention to behavior change, operation and maintenance, and district ownership. District Water Offices frequently lack the tools, skills, and resources to monitor functionality, plan maintenance, and coordinate stakeholders effectively.
There is a critical need for scalable, systems-strengthening WASH approaches that link school-level outcomes with district-led service delivery, ensuring sustainability beyond project funding.
Project Goal
The overall goal of this project is to strengthen and sustain equitable access to safe, reliable, and climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in underserved districts of Uganda by addressing both service delivery gaps at the school and community level and systemic weaknesses at the district level.
The project seeks to move beyond short-term, infrastructure-focused interventions by embedding WASH service delivery within existing district systems, strengthening institutional capacity, and scaling proven operational models that ensure functionality, accountability, and long-term maintenance. By integrating education-linked WASH improvements with district-led planning, monitoring, and coordination, the project aims to improve school attendance, health outcomes, and learning environments, particularly for girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
Through targeted capacity building of District Water Offices, school management committees, and local service providers, the project will enhance the ability of local institutions to plan, finance, monitor, and manage WASH services effectively, using government-approved data systems and national policy frameworks. At the same time, the project will promote sustained hygiene behaviors through structured behavior change communication, community engagement, and school-based interventions that reinforce positive practices beyond the life of the project.
Ultimately, the goal is to demonstrate a scalable, district-anchored WASH service delivery model that can be replicated across multiple districts in Uganda, contributing to national WASH and education priorities, strengthening local ownership, and ensuring that investments result in lasting improvements in service functionality, educational participation, and public health outcomes.
Specific Objectives
- Strengthen district-level WASH governance and systems by building the capacity of District Water Offices and relevant local government structures to plan, coordinate, finance, monitor, and manage WASH services using existing government-approved frameworks and data systems.
- Improve access to safe, inclusive, and climate-resilient WASH services in schools and surrounding communities through education-linked interventions that enhance water supply, sanitation facilities, handwashing infrastructure, and menstrual hygiene management, with particular attention to girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
- Promote sustained hygiene and sanitation behaviors among students, teachers, and community members through structured behavior change communication, school-based hygiene initiatives, and community engagement approaches that reinforce positive practices beyond the project period.
- Scale up a proven, operational WASH service delivery model that ensures functionality, routine maintenance, and timely repairs of WASH facilities by strengthening local service providers, establishing clear operation and maintenance arrangements, and promoting cost-effective, long-term service delivery mechanisms.
- Strengthen monitoring, learning, and accountability mechanisms by improving the collection, use, and integration of WASH data at district and school levels to support evidence-based decision-making, adaptive management, and continuous improvement of WASH services.
- Enhance local ownership and sustainability of WASH interventions by institutionalizing project approaches within district planning and budgeting processes, strengthening school management and community oversight structures, and facilitating a gradual transition of responsibilities to local authorities and service providers.
Target Beneficiaries
- Primary beneficiaries:
- 10,000–15,000 students (with a focus on girls and children with disabilities)
- Teachers and school administrators
- Secondary beneficiaries:
- District Water Office staff
- Water User Committees
- Surrounding communities
Project Approach and Key Activities
- Component 1: District-Level Systems Strengthening
- Component 2: Education-Linked WASH Improvements
- Rehabilitation or upgrading of water supply systems in selected schools
- Construction or upgrading of gender-segregated, inclusive sanitation facilities
- Provision of handwashing stations and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) facilities
- Component 3: Hygiene Behavior Change Communication (BCC)
- School-based hygiene clubs and peer education
- Teacher training on hygiene promotion
- Community engagement sessions aligned with school WASH activities
- Component 4: Operational Scale-Up of WASH Services
- Expansion of a proven WASH service model for routine maintenance and rapid repairs
- Training and deployment of local service providers or technicians
- Establishment of cost-sharing or subsidy mechanisms for vulnerable communities
Sustainability and Exit Strategy
The project prioritizes district ownership and institutionalization by working through existing government systems rather than parallel structures. Sustainability will be ensured through:
- Strengthened District Water Offices capable of ongoing oversight
- School management committees trained in operation and maintenance
- Local service providers engaged for routine maintenance
- Gradual handover of responsibilities to district authorities
- Exploration of revenue or co-financing models to support long-term service delivery
Gender, Equity, and Inclusion
The project integrates gender and inclusion across all components by:
- Ensuring safe, private, and accessible sanitation facilities for girls and children with disabilities
- Incorporating menstrual hygiene management in schools
- Engaging women in water user committees and decision-making
- Targeting underserved and vulnerable communities
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
Key indicators include:
- Percentage of functional water points at school and community level
- Improvement in student attendance, disaggregated by gender
- Adoption of key hygiene behaviors
- District use of WASH data for planning and budgeting
Learning will be documented and shared with district and national stakeholders to inform future scale-up.
Budget Summary (Indicative)
- District capacity building and systems support: 25%
- School WASH infrastructure and upgrades: 45%
- Hygiene promotion and BCC: 15%
- Monitoring, learning, and project management: 15%
Alignment with National Priorities
This project is fully aligned with the Government of Uganda’s national development, education, and water sector priorities, and directly supports the country’s commitments to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient service delivery. By strengthening district-level systems while improving school and community WASH services, the project reinforces nationally endorsed approaches that emphasize institutional capacity, decentralization, and long-term sustainability.
The project contributes directly to Uganda’s National Development Plan III (NDP III), which prioritizes human capital development, improved service delivery, and strengthened local government capacity as key drivers of inclusive growth. By embedding WASH service delivery within district planning, budgeting, and monitoring systems, the project supports NDP III objectives related to effective decentralization, accountability, and improved social services, particularly in underserved regions.
The intervention also aligns with the Water and Environment Sector Development Plan and the National Water Policy, which emphasize sustainable water resource management, functionality of water systems, and improved sanitation and hygiene practices. The project’s focus on maintaining functionality, strengthening operation and maintenance systems, and using government-approved WASH data platforms directly supports sector goals to move beyond access metrics toward reliable and sustainable service delivery.
In the education sector, the project supports the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) by improving learning environments through safe water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools. Education-linked WASH interventions contribute to improved student attendance, reduced absenteeism—particularly among girls—and better health outcomes, all of which are essential for achieving national education quality and equity targets. The integration of menstrual hygiene management and inclusive sanitation facilities further reinforces national commitments to gender equality and inclusive education.
The project is also consistent with Uganda’s commitments to climate resilience and disaster risk reduction, incorporating climate-resilient WASH designs and risk-informed planning in districts vulnerable to floods, droughts, and environmental shocks. By strengthening district capacity to plan and manage WASH services under changing climate conditions, the project supports national climate adaptation priorities and enhances the resilience of essential social infrastructure.
At the global level, the project contributes to Uganda’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), while advancing cross-cutting objectives related to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Through its emphasis on systems strengthening, equity, and scalability, the project aligns national priorities with global development commitments and positions Uganda to achieve lasting improvements in WASH and education outcomes.
Conclusion
This project presents a strategic and timely response to persistent WASH service delivery challenges in underserved districts of Uganda by addressing not only infrastructure gaps, but also the underlying systemic and institutional barriers that limit long-term functionality and impact. By deliberately linking school-level WASH improvements with district-led systems strengthening, the proposed intervention moves beyond fragmented, one-off investments toward a coherent, sustainable model of service delivery that is embedded within existing government structures and aligned with national priorities.
The project’s emphasis on district ownership, institutional capacity building, and operational scale-up ensures that WASH services are not only delivered, but maintained, monitored, and continuously improved over time. Strengthening the capacity of District Water Offices, school management committees, and local service providers will enable these institutions to plan, finance, and manage WASH services more effectively, reducing reliance on external actors and enhancing accountability to communities. At the same time, the integration of structured hygiene behavior change interventions ensures that physical improvements are reinforced by lasting changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among students, teachers, and surrounding communities.
By prioritizing gender equity, inclusion, and climate resilience, the project directly addresses the needs of girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by inadequate WASH services. Improved access to safe water, dignified sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools will contribute to better attendance, improved learning environments, and reduced health risks, while community-level engagement will extend these benefits beyond school boundaries.
Importantly, the project is designed as a scalable and replicable model, grounded in evidence and operational feasibility. The focus on proven approaches, phased expansion, and integration with national systems positions the intervention for broader adoption across additional districts and for alignment with future government and donor investments. Lessons learned and data generated through the project will inform policy dialogue, support adaptive management, and contribute to sector-wide learning within Uganda’s WASH and education sectors.
In conclusion, this project offers a high-value investment opportunity for donors seeking sustainable, system-level impact in WASH and education. By combining service delivery, institutional strengthening, and behavior change within a district-anchored framework, the intervention will deliver measurable, durable improvements in WASH functionality, educational participation, and public health outcomes, while strengthening local capacity to sustain and scale these gains long after the project period ends.
