The humanitarian needs are prevailent in the DPRK, access to WASH services is often precarious and not reliable at all.

SDC's humanitarian intervention defined in the CS 2017-2020 for DPRK is structured in two domains: (1) Restoring and managing livelihood-oriented resources and (2) Building and maintaining human sustenance. As part of intervention 2 the WASH programme in partnership with the Ministry of City Management (MoCM) aims to improve WASH services in rural areas. SDC's WASH interventions are in line with the priorities of MoCM, the UN Strategic Framework and harmonised with key WASH actors (UNICEF, INGO's, IFRC, ICRC). 

The WASH programme will provide sustainable WASH services including safer handling of human excreta while using it for agriculture purpose and will therefore strenghten the resilience of communities and improve the health and nutrition status of the targeted population.

Reliable WASH services will significantly reduce incidences of disentry at a household level and will contribute in particular to reduce under-nutrition and mortality of children. 

The emphasis is on rural population where access to safe and clean water is not provided and precarious management of household waste and effluents is still practiced.

SDC's geographic scope aims to reach out to locations with high vulnerability and identified synergies with the SLDM programme. 

Reference is made to Outcome 2.1 of the CS results framework:

Outcome 1:

Communities gain and maintain sustainable access to safe and sufficient drinking water.

Outcome 2:

Beneficiairies incl. People's Committees embrace hygiene and sanitation practices which are self-perpetuated by advocacy mechanisms embedded in target populations.

Outcome 3:

The MoCM and local authorities maintain and manage the structures and services to expand community-based WASH services. 

Risultati principali attesi:  

• 40'000 beneficiaries and 80 key institutions gain access to improves water and sanitation facilities including hygiene promotion.
• Communities' abilities to manage WASH services are enhanced (DRR, water source protection, operation and maintenance, asset management and disaster prepardness) 

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

On the basis of previous phases, the integrated WASH approach has been further developed with a strong emphasis on facilitating and upscaling of WASH projects sites and the introduction of adequate operation and maintenance.

The implementation approach combining direct implementation, technical expertise and trainings in close collaboration with MoCM proved successful. By the end of 2016 the "WASH" programme will have established access to clean water to 45'000 people with piloting sanitation coverage ranging from 15 to 50% of the same population. 

• WASH stakeholder cooperation through close exchange with different interlocutors and international partners that have proven experience in the WASH sector
• Sector coordination through active contribution to the UNICEF-led WASH Sector Working Group (e.g. policy development, technical solutions, knowhow transfer)
• Project cooperation with MoLEP (SLDM project) to improve water source protection through a more holistic watershed management. 

Fase 4 01.02.2017 - 31.12.2020   (Completed)