Financing WASH in Last-Mile Communities: Rethinking Partnerships in a Changing Donor Landscape
As the current donor landscape and national policy increasingly emphasize cost recovery, water services can no longer be provided entirely for free. However, this shift presents significant challenges in last-mile communities, where the realities on the ground make revenue collection difficult. In many of these underserved areas, some households can afford to pay for water, but many cannot. Schools and health facilities also expect to access water either for free or at highly subsidized rates. This raises a critical question: Who pays for water for schools, health facilities, and households that genuinely cannot afford it? Stakeholder Workshop: A Call to Rethink WASH Financing To address this pressing issue, Easy Water for Everyone (EWfE), in partnership with the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and the Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service, hosted a high-level stakeholder workshop under the theme: “Financing WASH in Last-Mile Communities: Rethinking Partnerships in a Changing Donor Landscape.” The event took place on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra, as part of Ghana’s WASH Week celebrations. Keynote Reflections Delivering the keynote address, Harrison Matti, Chief Operating Officer of EWfE, shared reflections from over a decade of operations. He highlighted the impact of EWfE’s clean water interventions while emphasizing the growing funding gap and revenue generation challenges affecting the sustainability of WASH programs in remote areas. “Non-profit organizations operating in these areas are therefore confronted with sustainability issues. Without adequate revenue from user fees, it becomes difficult to maintain water systems and ensure uninterrupted service delivery,” he observed. He noted that while some District Assemblies, particularly in the Ahafo Region, have contributed to capital expenditures for water infrastructure, there remains a significant gap in funding for schools and those who cannot afford them. Expanding the Conversation Suzzy Abaidoo, a representative of the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, shared that the ministry plans to establish a national technical group to broaden WASH dialogue and include non-water sector actors in policymaking. Meanwhile, Gladys Gbadagbali from the Health Promotion Division (GHS) emphasized the importance of linking WASH with health interventions: “Advocacy for collaboration on WASH and health programs is essential to improving health outcomes, reducing disease burdens, and building resilient health systems, particularly in fragile and humanitarian contexts,” she stated. Key Takeaways and Action Points The dialogue produced several strategic recommendations, reaffirming EWfE’s commitment to innovative, inclusive, and community-led solutions. Notable takeaways include: Advocating for a portion of the 10% District Assembly Common Fund allocated for Water to be earmarked for maintaining community water systems. Scaling the Pay-to-Fetch model as a sustainable, community-driven financing mechanism. Conducting deeper affordability and ability-to-pay assessments before implementing new projects. Strengthening collaboration with District Assemblies in project planning, implementation, and oversight. Encouraging CONIWAS to lead the development of a national framework that clearly defines “last-mile communities” for policy and funding purposes. Partnering with faith-based organizations to support project outreach and delivery. Exploring smart investment strategies to reduce over-reliance on revenues generated at the community level. Broad-Based Participation This high-level engagement convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, Skyfox Ltd, IRC, Saha Global, Janok Foundation, Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations, ProNet North, Ghana WASH Journalists Network (GWJN), and Le Korsa. A Call for Global Support As the donor landscape evolves, organizations like EWfE is adapting through smarter partnerships, data-driven models, and sustainable financing strategies. But we cannot do this alone. We call on global donors, development partners, and advocates to join us in ensuring that no community is left behind. Together, we can
WASH Innovation Meets Partnership
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, our team in Ghana, led by our Chief Operating Officer (COO), #HarrisonMatti participated in a strategic workshop organized by the 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗚𝗢𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (#CONIWAS) in collaboration with the 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮, hosted at the Palms by Eagles Airport City Hotel, Accra. The High-Level Water-Tech Breakfast Event was held under the theme: 💧 “𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗶 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿.” Participants were introduced to cutting-edge water technology solutions from leading Israeli tech organizations including 𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝗮, 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲, 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵., 𝗘𝘇 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗛𝟮𝗢𝗟𝗟, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝟮𝗪, all tailored to address Ghana’s unique WASH challenges. We were also honored to have #JaimeYayahBarry, Director of Environmental Projects at #LeKorsa, join the event as part of his working visit to Ghana to learn more about our water filtration system and explore new #partnership opportunities. This engagement forms part of the #GhanaWASHWeek celebrations, advancing #collaboration, #innovation, and #sustainable solutions for last-mile communities.
Exploring New Frontiers in Clean Water Access!
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, our team in Ghana, led by the ever-passionate #HarrisonMatti, welcomed the incredible minds from #ProjectMaji, including their visionary Founder & CEO #SunilLalvani, for an exciting 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮. From system walkthroughs to in-depth discussions about solar power, smart payment models, and scalable tech, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. 💡 There was a palpable sense of enthusiasm, a dynamic exchange of ideas, and a clear alignment in purpose: 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹. Next stop? 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 to one of Project Maji’s sites in the coming days and 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀! 🚀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. #PartnershipForImpact #CleanWaterAfrica #EasyWaterForEveryone #ProjectMaji #WaterTech #InnovationForGood #GhanaWater #GivingTuesday2025 #ConiwasGhana #WASHWeek2025 #GhanaWASHWeek
💧 💧 Every Child Deserves Safe Water at School 💧 💧
Do you know that 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝘆 just to fetch water, 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀? Without clean water, they 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻. We believe that education and clean water must go hand in hand. When children have safe water at school, they stay 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲. 👉 Let’s give kids more than books, 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. 📚💦 Learn more and support clean water for school children today: