Rural WASH Project: results from baseline survey of 33 districts in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe experienced a decade long economic decline that adversely affected access to water and sanitation services. The spotlight of the effects of this decline has mainly been on urban centers with little being discussed on the situation in rural districts. This paper highlights the findings of a survey conducted in 33 rural districts which aimed to determine the status of the water sanitation and hygiene situation. It highlights the situation in regards to access to services, operation and maintenance as well as the capacity of institutional structures to coordinate and manage water sanitation and hygiene issues. The paper showcases how the results have been used to influence programming of a large rural WASH programme in Zimbabwe