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More than one third of the global population needs basic sanitation. About 10 percent do not have clean water. Rotary International, one of largest humanitarian service organizations globally, and USAID, the world’s largest governmental aid agency, are partnering to make an impact.

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Emmanuel Odotei, USAID Ghana (l) & Ako Odotei, Rotary Ghana
An estimated 785 million people worldwide lack access to clean water.

It is a problem too big for any single agency or government to take on.

That’s why Rotary and USAID are combining strengths to help people access water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in a sustainable way. Our partnership pairs the technical expertise of USAID development professionals with Rotary’s members, who are local leaders in communities around the globe.

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OUR
APPROACH

Together, civil society and the public sector can make a difference in water, sanitation and hygiene.

Although Rotary and USAID are two very different organizations, we share the commitment to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Here’s how we approach the work in the partnership.

Local
Ownership

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We strive to implement solutions adapted to local needs and to build the capacity of governments and communities to take the lead in their own development. From the start, locals drive the planning and design of interventions. We invest our resources in capacity-building, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy to ensure long-term success.

Civil Society
Engagement

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Rotary and USAID are strong partners, but we know we cannot do it all by ourselves. In addition to engaging with governments, we work with nongovernmental and community organizations, to advocate for systemic change and find solutions.

Technical
Expertise

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USAID brings professional technical expertise in water, sanitation and hygiene and a rigorous approach to development. Rotary members are business and community leaders who apply a variety of skills and experience during implementation, such as monitoring and building the capacities of communities to adopt the most sustainable WASH practices.

Local Networks
of Influence

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Rotary and USAID are strong partners, but we know we cannot do it all by ourselves. In addition to engaging with governments, we work with nongovernmental and community organizations, to advocate for systemic change and find solutions.

OUR IMPACT
TO DATE

Our partnership combines volunteer, grass-roots energy with technical development expertise for large-scale solutions. We began in 2007, and since then have partnered in Ghana, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and our work in Uganda is just getting started.

$18 Million

Funds committed by Rotary and USAID for the partnership through 2025

10,790

Value of Rotary volunteer hours contributed in Ghana 2016-20

457,480

Estimated number of beneficiaries of partnership globally

Ron Denham Rotary USAID
News Oct 7, 2020

Envisioning Rotary’s future in WASH

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Rotary-USAID Ghana WASH partnership -what we do

What We
Do

Enhance programs for impact and sustainability

Read more Enhance programs for impact and sustainability

Foster improved water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors

Read more Foster improved water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors

Strengthen WASH management systems

Read more Strengthen WASH management systems

Collaborate and apply learnings

Read more Collaborate and apply learnings

Ryan Mahoney,
WASH Advisor USAID

Ryan Mahoney, USAID WASH Adviser
Transcript below

USAID acknowledges that we have limited influence over certain local factors in some cases, so by partnering with Rotary, we really seek to leverage their grassroots networks, their mobilization capacity, and generally the energy they bring to advocating for sustainable water and sanitation services.

Fundamentally, we know that aid agencies alone cannot solve the WASH crisis. So, ultimately, USAID is supporting countries in their journeys to self-reliance. So as part of the Rotary-USAID partnership, we look at the Rotarian as a local resource in the country, to build the country’s capacity and to take leadership in its own development

Ryan Mahoney
Ryan Mahoney,
WASH Advisor USAID
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Rotary USAID Ghana - John Michael Appiah Acheampong 550-911
News Dec 29, 2021

Volunteering in rural communities

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REGIONS
OF OUR IMPACT

Since 2009, Rotary and USAID have partnered in four countries. The partnership will expand to a fifth country to be determined.

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