UNOPS constructed latrines in Addis Ababa

UNOPS constructed environmentally friendly latrines in 10 selected schools in Addis Ababa to improve hygiene and sanitation services for school children and teachers. The eco-friendly latrine project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) has piloted a more acceptable latrine in Ethiopia — simple to install, affordable, comfortable, and easy to clean.

According to a joint study by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, only 13% of Ethiopians have access to latrine facilities, one of the lowest levels of sanitation coverage in the world. Schools across Ethiopia have low sanitation coverage, and even those that do have latrines, there aren’t separate facilities for boys and girls. About 30 percent of schools do not have any water supply or toilet facilities for sanitation. Water-borne diseases, such as diarrhea, results in more than 500,000 child deaths each year, and 60 to 80 percent of all diseases in Ethiopia are related to water and sanitation.

The project used environmentally friendly construction materials and renewable energy sources to solve the unmet needs of the population. Students who have graduated from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) were recruited to provide oversight of the construction phase of the latrines, which will enhance their capacity to work in environmentally friendly construction projects.