R-WASH for refugees, IDPs and host communities

R-WASH will provide more sustainable, conflict-sensitive, climate-resilient and integrated water supply and sanitation services for refugees, IDPs and host communities in East Africa.

A strong consortium formed by CES Consulting Engineers Salzgitter GmbH (Braunschweig – DE), Acacia Water (Gouda – NL) and MS Consultancy (Addis Ababa – ET), together with RICOS engineering (Khartoum - SDN) has started last year with the R-WASH project for UNICEF East Africa head office in Nairobi. The 4-year assignment will provide engineering services and improved access to water and sanitation for more sustainable WASH services for refugees, IDPs and host communities in 4 nations: Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.

Based on the pre-feasibility study of KFW, UNICEF and UNHCR, refugee settlements were selected in 4 countries (Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda) where the needs are high and the potential for cost effective solutions is greatest. The objective of the project is the improvement of supply conditions in the field of water and sanitation for the refugee settlements as well as for the adjacent host communities. The project areas comprise a total of eight refugee settlements: three in Ethiopia (Kebribeyah, Aw-Barre, Sheder), two in Somalia (Kabasa, Qansaxley in Doolow town), two in Sudan (Wad Sharife, Girba) and one in Uganda (Rwamwanja).

Acacia Water will lead the hydrogeological mapping in all 4 countries to identify sustainable sources for the water provision. Together with our Sudanese partner RICOS engineering, we will implement and coordinate the whole project in Sudan. CES as leading partner of the Joint Venture will carry out the overall project management and the implementation in Uganda. MS Consultancy will carry out the projects in Ethiopia and Somalia. The Inception phase has started from October last year. 

In the past weeks, the local R-WASH team of RICOS engineering accessed the refugee settlements of Wad Sharifey and Girba in Kassala state, Sudan, and they have started the work on the Infrastructure assessment and hydrogeological investigations. In the coming months the team will start the work on engineering feasibility studies, and detailed designs of water supply systems.

For more information about the R-WASH project, please contact Daniela Benedicto van Dalen (mailto:daniela.benedicto@acaciawater.com) or Anne van der Heijden (mailto:anne.vanderheijden@acaciawater.com)