Field Report
By Travis John CARE Australia
WASH Technical Advisor
Country: Ethiopia
04/01/13 – 14/02/13
Emergency WASH Projects in East and West Hararghe zones of Oromiya region.
Duty Stations: Addis Ababa CO and East and West Hararghe FO
Email Contact: travyohne@hotmail.com
1. Introduction
CARE Ethiopia is implementing emergency WASH projects in East and West Hararghe zones of
Oromiya region. Main project components include the rehabilitation of water points, school
latrine construction and hygiene promotion through Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and
Children Hygiene and Sanitation Training (CHAST) approaches. CARE Ethiopia sought external
assistance due to leave of the WASH advisor.
2. Activities as per Terms of Reference
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Review of project documents and discuss with the staff to have an update on the project
progress.
Technical support for the construction of latrine and water points in terms of conducting
regular supervision to the construction sites.
Necessary support and back up for project officers to timely assess construction
progress, quality and material sources and timely provide updates.
Field staff assistance in developing hand over documents for rehabilitated water points
and constructed school latrines.
Technical support to water sectors and project officers to implement training on
rehabilitation water schemes.
Technical support in implementing CLTS and CHAST.
Joint monitoring and supportive supervision with project staffs and relevant partners.
Assistance in the compilation of monitoring reports and documents for reference during
project evaluation.
Support to improve information management and documentation of WASH project
activities in consultation with the CARE Ethiopia Communication advisor and Information
Management intern based in Addis Ababa.
3. Achieved Outcomes
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Staff capacity improved in-terms of their technical knowledge and management skills.
Smooth progress of school latrine construction as per the standard.
The identified water points are rehabilitated and start to serve the community.
CLTS and CHAST approaches are implemented in selected villages and schools.
4. Activities, Outcomes Achieved, Observations and Considerations
The following table details activities undertaken during the field trip to East and West
Hararghe Field Offices. Please note that it should be assumed that the language gap and
limited time constraints may have had some impact on the accuracy of some observations. It
is therefore intended that the resulting considerations should not merely be taken literally,
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but also be used to stimulate discussion and review, or noted as being adequately addressed.
At the same time, observations from a person of technical background that is experiencing
the project for the first time may also be able to deliver a different perspective, which may
prove beneficial to both the current, as well as, future projects.
Activities
Outcomes Achieved
Observations and Considerations
Review of project documents and
progress updates by CARE staff.
 Emergency Water and
Sanitation Project in Fedis and
Midegatolla project
description.
 Emergency Water and
Sanitation Project in
Gemechis and Mieso project
description.
 CO and FO updates provided
by CARE staff for respective
WASH projects.
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Up to date
understanding of
project status,
achievements and
challenges.
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A sincere thank you to all CARE staff who dedicated
their time in discussions and updates relating to the
respective projects throughout the period of stay.
Provision of technical support for
the construction of latrine and
water points through conducting
regular supervision to the
construction sites.
 Field visits to projects sites
carried out on 15/01, 28/01,
30/01, 01/02, 06/02.
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Staff capacity
improved in-terms
of their technical
knowledge and
management skills.
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During field visits it was apparent that the WASH
team have all, both individually and collectively,
established, developed and maintained a close,
cooperative and trusting relationship with
respective target communities.
Relevant latrine standards, project time and cost
constraints are acknowledged. However, following
construction completion it may be worthwhile
considering, in consultation with the intended users
or their representatives, appropriate inclusive
design additions for children with disabilities or
mental health impairments. For example, ramps,
handrails, seats and access pathways can still be
fitted after latrine construction is completed.
Limited technical and field related research
information exists regarding multi-compartmental
back-to-back, single pit, VIP latrine design and its
associated odour and fly control capabilities. This
includes for example, ventilation performance due
to cross flows occurring across a single pit. It may
therefore prove beneficial to monitor the odour
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The identified water
points undergo
rehabilitation and
start to serve the
community.
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Smooth progress of
school latrine
construction as per
the standard.
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Support and back up project
officers through timely
assessment of construction
progress, workmanship, quality
material sources and provision of
timely updates.
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
Staff capacity
improved in-terms
of their technical
knowledge and
management skills.
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Smooth progress of
latrine construction
in the schools as per
the standard.
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and fly control capabilities for future reference
relating to latrine design considerations.
Additional technical VIP design specifications that
may be applied to current design.
 The action of the wind as it passes over
the vent pipe creates a suction pressure
or up-draught. To ensure that the roof
does not interfere with the action of
wind across the top of the vent (min.
100mm diameter) its height should be
greater than or equal to 50cm above the
highest point of the roof.
 To maximize ventilation rates, one set of
doors should face into the prevailing
wind and doors should have a ventilation
gap (above) greater than three times the
cross sectional area of the vent pipe.
 Extended lining that allows liquid to
percolate out of the pit, but prevents
ingress of soil may be required in
unstable soils. For instance, there are
locations where pits have been dug in
clay soils. These may now appear stable
in the dry season, but they can collapse
when the clay becomes wet following
rain.
Challenges exist around unfavourable latrine soil
type and conditions, particularly in relation to the
presence of rock and unpickable soils. Flexible
arrangements have been required and applied well
in terms of school latrine pit design.
 To achieve targeted latrine life in unfavourable
digging types or in situations where the water
table is high, considerations for an alternative
latrine design incorporating a raised cover slab
may prove beneficial. A formula for the
estimation of latrine life can be provided.
 During the planning phase, basic assessment of
soil type through shallow dig and application of
local knowledge may prove useful in
streamlining future latrine construction.
 Any future project latrine budgeting
considerations may need to take into account
digging uncertainties. For instance, increased
labour and/or material costs where digging is
difficult or when extended lining is required (all
unstable soils).
Assisted staff in developing
documents for rehabilitated
water points and constructed
school latrines.
 Assistance in the compilation
of Emergency Water and
Sanitation Project in West
Hararghe Zone Interim
Report and sanitary survey
information.
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Staff capacity
improved in-terms
of their technical
knowledge and
management skills.
 To help ensure future water quality post handover,
it may be beneficial to encourage WASH Officers to
undertake sanitary surveys (and if identified, followup action) with the involvement of relevant persons
to whom the water point is handed over too. This
might include for example the borehole operator/s
or water management committee representative/s.
Technical support to water
sectors and project officers to
implement training on
rehabilitation water schemes (see
photos 1-5 in appendix).
 Technical support,
information and staff training
provided in relation to
ensuring water quality now
that rehabilitated water
schemes are or becoming
operational.
 Adapted sanitary surveys
carried out and water quality
testing training undertaken.
Available water quality testing
included TDS, temperature,
Chlorine and pH.
 Relevant permissible water
quality parameters (i.e. WHO
and Ethiopian Standards)
explained and provided for
future reference within
respective kits. Accompanying
explanatory information also
provided.
 Assistance through sharing of
information and discussion to
address identified beneficiary
concerns around the safe use
of water treatment chemicals.
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Staff capacity
improved in-terms
of their technical
knowledge and
management skills.
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Comprehensive water quality testing subject to
availability of equipment. Sanitary surveying was
discussed and when appropriate undertaken to
gather relevant information to determine the
likelihood or risk of faecal pollution.
 Observed benefits of undertaking sanitary
survey (adapted to local relevance), included its
simplicity and ability to be utilised by respective
communities responsible for water source
management. It was also found to provide a
medium in which beneficiaries, CARE staff and
other stakeholders can identify and express or
comment on water quality concerns. WASH
Officers have been encouraged to adapt
grammar to suite local context and/or language
for application post hand over.
 CO support may be required if any follow up or
actions to be taken are identified as a result of
the sanitary surveys to ensure acceptable risk.
Likewise, appropriate record keeping
management and information transfer during
handover is important.
Capacity now exists for the respective WASH teams
to independently and/or jointly monitor chlorine
treatment scheduled to be undertaken by the
Water Board during initial rehabilitated borehole
operation (subject to availability of chlorine testing
equipment). Both FOs have expressed benefits of
having permanently on location chlorine and
turbidity testing equipment to carry out this and
other similar tasks in the future.
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Provide technical support in
implementing CLTS and CHAST
 Walk through target villages,
discuss progress, and provide
encouragement and support.
 Observed CLTS results in
form of community creation
of household pit latrines and
utilization.
 Additional CHAST
information provided and
discussed with WASH Officer
for future reference.

Staff capacity
improved in-terms
of their technical
knowledge and
management skills.

CLTS and CHAST
approaches are
implemented in
selected villages
and schools.
Initiate joint monitoring and
supportive supervision with
project staffs and relevant
partners.
 Field visits to project sites
detailed above. When
appropriate joint field visits
included members of the
Water Board, Woreda,
Kebele and other
Administrative Officials,
Contractors, School
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Smooth progress of
latrine construction
in the schools as per
the standard.
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The identified water
points are
rehabilitated and
start to serve the
community.
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CLTS and CHAST
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A chlorine tester is available at the CO. It may prove
beneficial to purchase a turbidity tester (tube) to
accompany and to be used in conjunction with this
kit.
Both FOs now have TDS testers and the WASH
Officers are trained and have used the tester in the
field. It is my understanding that these are intended
to be made registered equipment of the FO, but
may be useful to ensure that this task has been
carried out.
One of the big successes of the projects has been
the improvements around safe excreta disposal
following the implementation of CLTS. During
monitoring and evaluation walks through villages to
observe ODF progress it was encouraging to see
that community members were active, resourceful
and very innovative in their household latrine
designs (see photos 6-12 in appendix). Continued
encouragement, support and assistance,
particularly for identified leaders, will prove
beneficial to ensure ODF status is sustainably
adopted in each respected community.
It was noted that CARE staff understood and carried
out a positive facilitator type role to ensure that it
was the community that drove, owned and are
responsible for the achievement of ODF status. This
current role placement should prove vital in the
sustainability of safe excreta disposal in the
communities.
WASH staff should be congratulated for their
amazing efforts in relation to their ongoing
collaboration with numerous partners and
stakeholders to ensure that the needs to the target
communities are met and project objectives
achieved. The joint field trips were an excellent
example of real coordination and collaborative
efforts. Appreciation of this was also evident and
expressed by members of the targeted
communities.
representatives, CARE WASH
Officers, Construction
Supervisors and Community
Facilitators.
Compile monitoring reports and
document for reference during
project evaluation.
 Assistance in the compilation
of Emergency Water and
Sanitation Project in West
Hararghe Zone Interim
Report.
 GPS field application
activities.
 Application of photographs
in monitoring, evaluation and
reporting.
approaches are
implemented in
selected villages
and schools.

Improve information
management and documentation
of WASH project activities.
 WASH Officer information
management discussed.
Staff capacity
improved in-terms
of their technical
knowledge and
management skills
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Benefits of taking photographs during monitoring
and its application as a useful tool became
apparent. It proved a useful tool for promoting
successes or achievements and illustrating current
project work status or issues. Increased
encouragement of appropriate photographic usage
(even mobile phone camera) and provision for an
ability to electronically transfer may therefore
prove beneficial, particularly as latrine construction
progresses.
In follow up of previous WASH advisor training, GPS
activities (when available) were implemented in the
field. GPS information and its relevance to WASH
activities was discussed and applied. This included,
for example, water point and/or source location
and the relationship between elevation and
temperature of boiling water.
Information management was limited to WASH
Officer discussion relating to data obtained in the
field. For example water testing and sanitary
survey results.
5. Acknowledgements
Special thanks to all the staff at CARE Ethiopia for your hospitality and support during my
time in Ethiopia. In particular, I would like to thank all members of the Emergency Unit and
the WASH Teams in the CO and FO of West and East Hararghe who have all helped to make
me feel welcome and part of the team. A sincere thank you also to both CARE Australia and
the WASH Advisors to whom I am also grateful for their support and assistance. Once again
thank you and I look forward to working with you all again in the future. Warmest regards
Travis John.
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6. Appendix – Photographs
Photo 1: Rehabilitated borehole in West Hararghe.
Photo 2: Rehabilitated borehole and generator shed in West Hararghe.
Photo 3: Generator and trained local operator in West Hararghe.
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Photo 4: Borehole under rehabilitation in East Hararghe. CARE WASH Officer and Community
Facilitator present.
Photo 5: New pipe laid connecting borehole to reservoir tank in East Hararghe.
Photo 6: CLTS target community West Hararghe. Community created village map indicating
households with latrines.
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Photo 7: Example of a household pit latrine following CLTS approach.
Photo 8: Example of a household pit latrine following CLTS approach.
Photo 9: Example of a household pit latrine following CLTS approach. Locally available
resources and materials including a pit latrine cover slab.
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Photo 10: Example of a household pit latrine following CLTS approach.
Photo 11: Example of a household pit latrine with hand washing facility following CLTS
approach.
Photo 12: Example of a hand washing facility at household latrine following CLTS approach.
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