5 Min Inspiration: How dignity and toilets make people healthier

“…now having a latrine is not an option but it is a matter of dignity” How do you cut diarrhea by 40%  and have people use the latrine so the water stays safe? Make it about dignity.

That’s not the only change people in Ethiopia are seeing with the RESET II project. They’re also seeing improved agricultural production, better government services, and sustainable practices for the future.

RESET II in Ethiopia is running from 2016-2020 with $7 million in funding from the European Union. In partnership with Action Against Hunger, it is reaching more than 378,000 people.

What have we accomplished?

•    People are healthier: there has been a 40% reduction in diarrhea.
•    Water is safer: people are 83% more likely to be using safe water sources, and 44% more likely to be using a latrine.
•   Agriculture is more sustainable: people are 83% more likely to be using sustainable land and water management practices. They have also restored 3,128 acres of rangeland for animals.
•   Production is increasing: agricultural yield per hectare has gone up 47%.
•  Government services are better: people are 34% more likely to get home health services. An additional 378,720 people got health care through community health offices.
• Government acts in emergencies: the government is twice as likely to respond promptly to early warning indicators to prevent and prepare for a crisis.

How did we get there?

•  Support health facilities: The project provided logistics support and supplies to hospitals
• Help communities access information: Using Community Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments and Participatory Scenario Planning, the project was able to help communities identify what information they needed, and better access weather and early warning information.
• Focus on gender equality: the project is using Social Analysis and Action to help communities understand the constraints that women face, and how everyone can make changes to improve gender equality and life for everyone in the community.
• Use savings: the project supported savings groups for 1,328 people so they can plan for the future, and save a portion of the salary they receive from cash for work programming.
• Improve access to water: so far, the project has helped upgrade and repair 32 existing water facilities, and support 13 water management committees to ensure that the water keeps flowing.