WSSP2

In the project countries Romania, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a lack of sustainable water, sanitation, wastewater, and waste management in rural areas, which can have serious consequences for the environment and health of the population. The aim of WECF and the local partner organisations was to further develop or introduce the “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning” (WSSP) instrument in the target countries. WSSP showed methods for risk management for water and sanitation and explained measures to minimise risks and improve the water and sanitation situation.

The online educational portals "Water Classroom" developed in the previous project, on which interactive educational materials on the topics of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and WSSP are already freely available in Romanian and Macedonian, were translated into Albanian and Serbian and made freely accessible online.

In various educational measures, WECF's WSSP compendium was introduced to Bosnian-Herzegovinian, Serbian and Albanian teachers, pupils and various stakeholders from administration, politics and institutions. In North Macedonia, children with disabilities were included in the educational activities, for which the teaching materials were adapted. In collaboration with North Macedonian and Albanian universities, educational material on an academic level were developed. Interactive and playful educational materials on microplastics were developed and used in additional educational activities. Some of the materials were digitised and included in the "water classrooms". 

Menstrual Health Management (MHM) was a broad focus of the educational activities. In addition, the project partners prepared a cost-benefit analysis of menstrual products and conducted a survey on menstrual poverty. Subsequently, a campaign called for the provision of free menstrual products in schools and public buildings. The North Macedonian partners worked with gender organisations against gender-specific tax discrimination, e.g. in menstrual products. To analyse gender equality in the WASH sector, data collection took place in various project countries, on the basis of which recommendations for action were subsequently developed.