WASH-Friendly Schools - A Training Resource for SPLASH Use

USAID/Zambia has a long history of investment in education. Programs such as CHANGES I and II and EQUIP1 and 2 played a significant role in building the capacity of the Ministry of Education as an institution in the areas of leadership training, in-service teacher training, restructuring, and especially in the ED*ASSIST system. EQUIP2 revived the office of School Health and Nutrition (SHN) previously established by the MOE and funded the coordinator’s position, which has been picked up by the World Food Program (WFP) to manage the Home Grown School Feeding program.

As Water for the Poor Act monies became available, USAID/Zambia/Education made a decision to invest in water and sanitation plus hygiene education for 800+ schools in Northern Province. This three-year program (2009-2012) is managed by Development Aid from People to People (DAPP). As EQUIP2 ended, USAID decided to increase its school WASH investment by setting up SPLASH—Schools Promoting Learning Achievement through Sanitation and Hygiene. SPLASH contributes toward the USAID Education Strategy goal by providing an effective WASH in Schools program in Eastern Province. In line with the USAID Education Strategy, SPLASH will ensure that children are healthy, secure, have adequate safe clean water and sanitation facilities, and are thus better able to learn.