Dongolat Elementary School and Health Centre Reconstructed with Support from the Government of Ethiopia and World Bank, Now Ready to Serve the Community

The Dongolat Elementary School and Dongolat Health Centre in Amdi Wayane, Hintalo, Tigray, were successfully reconstructed within Ethiopia’s Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) Project of the the Government of Ethiopia, financed by the World Bank, and implemented by UNOPS.

The Elementary School and Health Centre were officially handed over today in the presence of the Head of the Regional Health Bureau Dr. Amanuel Haile, Head of the Regional Education Bureau Dr. Kiros Guesh, and UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-Country Office Director Worknesh Gonet.

As a consequence of the conflict and no maintenance, both facilities suffered damage on the roofs, walls, floors, windows, doors, which required rehabilitation in order to restore its services. Within the rapid response activities of the 3R4CACE Project, UNOPS carried out six-months long reconstruction of the Dongolat Health Centre which included installation of new roofing sheets, floors, windows and doors, while the electrical installations were repaired. One new flush toilet block facility was constructed, which improved sanitary conditions, and the new ramps for the people with disabilities were built to enable access. In addition to this, stationeries, hygiene items and mattresses, pillows, bed sheets and other support material were provided to the Health Centre.

The total value of the Dongolat Health Centre reconstruction including labour, construction material and logistics was USD 125,000, which improved conditions for work and medical care of 15,619 people (7,950 female and 7,669 male) and 24 employees (14 health professionals and ten supporting staff).

The Dongolat Primary School was significantly affected as a consequence of the conflict in Tigray, as four out of eight classroom blocks were structurally damaged together with the desks and blackboards. The school built decades ago was not previously maintained, and had no toilet blocks after the conflict. Within the rapid response activities of the 3R4CACE Project implemented by UNOPS, the rehabilitation of the Dongolat Primary School lasted for six months and the works envisaged installation of new roofing sheets and new floors, together with the construction of the new drainage. New windows and doors were produced and installed, while the school has been completely repainted and equipped with 200 new desks and 16 blackboards. Two new standard flush toilet facilities were constructed, which improved sanitary conditions. The classrooms became accessible for the students and teachers with disabilities, as the new ramp access was constructed. In addition to this, the 3R4CACE project paid USD 9,817 to cover four months of stipends to teachers so that they could return to work and children could get taught.

The project efforts will improve access to education for 662 pupils and work for 24 teachers providing them with better conditions to study and teach. The total value of this reconstruction including labour, construction material and logistics was USD 180,000.

The reconstruction process of both facilities provided employment opportunities for over 100 local workers. Additionally, the construction materials were sourced from the same area, which helped to support the economy of the local community. Additionally, the community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) rapid response intervention in Amdi Wayane included the rehabilitation of the water supply pumping station (some 300 metres from the Dongolat Primary School), which improved the access to water to the local population. The recovery phase of the project will include the institutional WASH in Dongolat Primary School and Health Centre, which should start in the next several months.

The Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) Project of the Government of Ethiopia financed by the World Bank with USD 300 million, aims to (i)rebuild and improve access to basic services and climate-resilient community infrastructure and (ii) improve access to multi-sectoral response services for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors; in selected conflict-affected communities in Ethiopia.