Welthungerhilfe Malawi has been implementing a WASH system strengthening project in Dedza District, Malawi, since August 2019. This project represents a considerable shift in Welthungerhilfe Malawi’s WASH programming, seeing them reorientate from focusing on infrastructure construction and behaviour change to addressing key systemic challenges such as inadequate planning, limited performance of maintenance and repairs, weak supply chains, and limited coordination between stakeholders. The project has proved effective in improving reducing sustainability challenges, with non-functionality rates across Dedza District dropping notably.

Aguaconsult collaborated with BAWI Consult to conduct a mid-term evaluation of this project. The findings were largely positive, with the project performing well against a series of OECD-DAC criteria. Nevertheless, several detailed and practical recommendations were formulated to further improve Welthungerhilfe Malawi’s systems strengthening work, and Aguaconsult travelled to Malawi in November 2021 to support the implementation of these.

For more information on this project and Aguaconsult’s work with Welthungerhilfe, please contact Bill Twyman.