In August 2008 the WASH Ethiopia Movement, WaterAid Ethiopia, and Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region (RiPPLE) joined Radio Fana to initiate a radio campaign to raise awareness of the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in daily life. Radio Fana, the first national commercial radio station in Ethiopia, broadcast once a week on several different frequencies, reaching the whole nation. The campaign mainly intended to mobilize the society to place WASH on the public agenda, with particular emphasis on policy-makers. Its goals included:
- sensitizing society about how water and sanitation impact disease and poverty;
- addressing responsibilities of society, government, professionals and stakeholders;
- informing the public about, and influencing water and sanitation policies of the government;
- encouraging the public to actively advocate for change in the sector;
- boosting the community to use and manage local resources for improved sanitation; and
- strengthening public-private partnerships and supporting national efforts to improve sector performance.
The programme connected the audience with success stories of individuals and communities that advertised best practices related to water, sanitation and hygiene; within that context, the programme also discussed issues such as population growth, gender, disability, school and urban sanitation.
Overall the WASH Radio Campaign stood out due to a broad range of topics and innovative programming including community conversations, panel discussions and drama. “The campaign not only reached communities in remote areas but also influenced political leaders, especially at the regional and district levels,” concluded Michael Negash, National Coordinator of the WASH Ethiopia Movement. This contributed to considerable achievements, for example the legalization of WASH boards, replication of CLTS approaches or budget allocation for water utilities.
