UNICEF-UNHCR R-WASH Programme Improves Water Services for 243,000 People Across East Africa

New York/Geneva, August 27, 2026 — A joint programme run by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has significantly improved the reliability and affordability of water services for refugees, internally displaced people and host communities across Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, according to a new evaluation. The Regional Programme on Water and Sanitation for Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities in East Africa (R-WASH) has reached more than 243,000 people, exceeding its original target by over 20 percent.

Background

Refugees, internally displaced people and the communities that host them across East Africa have long faced significant barriers to reliable water access, often relying on costly and unpredictable emergency measures such as water trucking. This instability places additional strain on already vulnerable populations, undermining public health, dignity and long-term development prospects, while also straining relations between displaced populations and host communities competing for scarce resources.

R-WASH was designed to address these challenges by combining immediate humanitarian support with longer-term investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, local utility capacity and government systems — an approach intended to move beyond short-term relief toward sustainable water service delivery. The programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (KfW), alongside the African Development Bank and other partners.

Key Results

According to the evaluation, targeted investments in network rehabilitation, solar-powered water systems and utility-managed infrastructure have measurably reduced service interruptions and costs across all three countries:

• Somalia: The proportion of households experiencing 24-hour water interruptions fell from 83 percent to 38 percent, while water production costs declined by 16 percent
• Sudan: Water production costs declined by 22 percent
• Ethiopia: A shift from emergency water trucking to a piped system cut costs by more than 90 percent

These improvements reflect a broader shift in approach — from reactive, emergency-based water delivery toward durable infrastructure capable of withstanding ongoing pressures while lowering the long-term cost of service provision.

Broader Impact

By pairing immediate support with sustained investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, local utilities and government capacity, R-WASH is helping build more reliable, affordable and sustainable water services for displaced and host populations alike. The programme’s outcomes are framed as contributing directly to progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees, which calls for strengthened support to both refugees and the communities that host them.

Conclusion

The R-WASH evaluation offers evidence that combining humanitarian response with long-term infrastructure investment can deliver measurable improvements in water reliability and affordability, even in complex displacement settings across Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Having already surpassed its reach target by more than 20 percent, the programme’s results suggest a viable model for water service delivery in other regions facing similar pressures from displacement, climate stress and constrained public resources — offering a pathway toward more sustainable water access for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Read the evaluation here.