Innovative Finance
August 1, 2024
Context and Problem
In Zambia, many rural areas face significant water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges, which affect health and behavior outcomes. Compared to other regions, Sub-Saharan Africa has made overall slower progress in WASH improvements. Moreover, not having proper WASH systems exacerbates health issues, which leads to lower attendance and fewer student learning outcomes. This solution saw schools as entry points for disseminating WASH knowledge.
Solution
The “WASH UP!” program, developed by Sesame Workshop and World Vision, targets primary school students between grades 1-4 using a 12-week curriculum focused on hygiene behaviors such as handwashing and using safe water. Additionally, this also includes teacher training and some infrastructure improvements.
The implementation was multifaceted. First, educational curriculums were developed that included storytelling, interactive games, videos, and structured discussions, and the key messages were repeated throughout the 12 sessions to reinforce learning. Second, teacher training, which involved conducting workshops over three days to equip teachers with skills to deliver the curriculum effectively. Third, the provision of materials, such as mats, storybooks, and projectors. Fourth is message sharing, which involves encouraging students to share WASH messages with their parents. Fifth, innovation can be utilized through products such as visual handouts.
Impact
Grade 1 students showed significant gains in WASH-related knowledge, while grade 4 students had higher baseline knowledge and a lower improvement. Second, WASH-related message sharing increased from 7% to 23%, with grade 4 students being 5x more likely to share messages than grade 1 students. 88% of the teachers planned to continue using the curriculum designed during this intervention. However, no significant changes were observed in household WASH infrastructure or caregiver practices.