Evidence Action (Kenya / Uganda / Malawi)
Evidence Action creates evidence-based, cost-effective programmes to reduce the burden of poverty for hundreds of millions of people across Africa and Asia. Their approach bridges the gap between research and solutions for people in need. By focusing on approaches backed by rigorous evidence, they support programmes that are measurably effective and provide cost-effective solutions by seeking to solve the challenge of scaling-up aid projects.
For less than $1.50 per person per year, Dispensers for Safe Water provides over 4 million people in rural Africa with free and reliable access to safe water.
Diarrhoeal disease is the world’s second-leading cause of childhood mortality, claiming the lives of around 525,000 children under five annually. Globally, at least 785 million people lack access to a basic drinking-water service (a safe drinking-water source within a 30-minute round trip), and at least 2 billion people use a water source contaminated with faeces.
In 2020/2021, the Eurofins Foundation provided funding to the project “Dispensers for Safe Water”, the primary objective of which is to reduce the mortality rate and morbidity of diarrhoea in children under five.
Despite the obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2021, support from the Eurofins Foundation has allowed Dispensers for Safe Water to continue providing over 4 million people across rural Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi with free and reliable access to safe drinking water. In the context of a pandemic, this is critical to help keep preventable diseases at bay and ease the strain on already taxed health systems.
As of the middle of 2021, Dispensers for Safe Water has reached 560,792 children under five, averted 222,440 cases of diarrhoea in children under five, and averted 180 deaths due to diarrhoea in children under five.
Halfway through the year, 157,930 chlorine refills were delivered, 53,066 spot checks were performed, and 4,361 households visited for bi-monthly community and promoter surveys. The programme has thus far achieved a dispenser functionality rate of 94% (more than EV's target of 90%) and an adoption rate of 59%.
EV works closely with the Ministries of Health at national and district levels in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, and has signed Memorandums of Understanding with nine county governments in Kenya, 11 district governments in Uganda, and one district government in Malawi. Dispensers for Safe Water continues to increase government engagement in the project. For example, in Malawi, the Zomba District Health Office provides chlorine storage space in 28 health facilities and supervises ten community chlorine holding facilities in hard-to-reach areas. Health surveillance assistants (HSA) manage the storage and issuance of the chlorine to promoters and continues to promote safe water practices in the communities.
In 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation renewed its support for this project, allowing dispensers for Safe Water to continue providing over 4.4 million people across rural Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi with free and reliable access to safe drinking water.
As of the mid-year point of 2022, Dispensers for Safe Water has reached 586,754 children under five, averted 501,368 cases of diarrhea in children under five, and averted 460 deaths due to diarrhea in children under five.
Halfway through the year, 163,526 chlorine refills have been delivered, 52,234 spot checks have been performed and 4,298 households have been visited for bi-monthly community and promoter surveys. The program has thus far achieved a dispenser functionality rate of 89% and an adoption rate of 63%.
In 2022/2023, the Eurofins Foundation renewed its support to Evidence Action’s safe water work: building on their Dispensers for Safe Water experience, networks, supply chain, and footprint, in-line chlorination (ILC) is a new approach used by Evidence Action for treating communal piped water sources, with the potential to dramatically expand the populations the organisation can reach with safe water.
Evidence Action uses two interventions to deliver chlorine treatment. Their network of chlorine dispensers stretches across rural communities in Malawi, Uganda, and Kenya that aren’t reached by municipal systems. At their water source, community members turn the valve to dispense chlorine in to their buckets and fill their buckets with water. The chlorine disinfects the water during their walk, so when they arrive home, it’s safe to drink. In places with communal piped water systems — often peri-urban and urban communities — Evidence Action uses in-line chlorination devices installed directly on water tanks. As water flows into pipes, it’s automatically chlorinated, so it’s safe to drink before it reaches someone’s home. These two complementary interventions allow Evidence Action to expand their reach and share operational resources to keep costs low.
Support from the Eurofins Foundation has allowed Safe Water Now to continue providing over 10 million people across rural Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi with free and reliable access to safe drinking water. In 2022 alone, Evidence Action estimate that over half a million cases of diarrhea and hundreds of deaths among children under five were averted.
During this period, 322,238 chlorine refills were delivered, 106,137 spot checks were performed, and 8,592 households were visited for bi-monthly community and promoter surveys. The program achieved a dispenser functionality rate of 90% and an adoption rate of 64% (510% more than the initial target).
This project contributes to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
