The “Promoting Safe Water and Sanitation Access and Hygiene Motivation Among Rural Poor in Dowarabazar in Northeast Bangladesh ” project, funded by WaterAid Bangladesh and implemented by Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA), is a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in rural areas of Dowarabazar Upazila in Sunamganj district. This project focuses on ensuring inclusive and sustainable WASH services in households, healthcare facilities, and schools, particularly targeting the most vulnerable and excluded communities in remote rural areas, such as tea gardens, hill tracts, and haor/wetland regions.
Key interventions of the project include the installation of improved latrines, handwashing stations, and safe water points in schools and communities. The project also emphasizes community engagement by forming WASH committees and training local leaders to oversee and maintain WASH facilities. Moreover, it conducts awareness sessions addressing social issues such as early marriage, sexual harassment, and other forms of abuse, and organizes events like street dramas and observance of special days to disseminate program information and raise awareness.
By focusing on education, community engagement, and strategic partnerships, the “Promoting Safe Water and Sanitation Access and Hygiene Motivation Among Rural Poor in Dowarabazar in Northeast Bangladesh ” project contributes significantly to the empowerment of marginalized populations, aligning with national goals of social inclusion and gender equality. Through these efforts, the project aims to make a lasting change in the lives of the poor by ensuring inclusive and sustainable WASH services.