📋 Tender Overview
Since 2020, Swiss humanitarian assistance, in collaboration with UNICEF, has improved WASH facilities in nearly half of Abkhazian public schools, ensuring safer learning environments. The final phase will enhance sanitary and hygiene conditions in the remaining schools with critically inadequate sanitation, hindering learning and posing health risks for children. Additionally, it will introduce innovative and affordable sewage and fecal sludge treatment systems.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Georgia
Water
Health
Water sanitation
Health education
01.05.2025 - 30.04.2028
CHF 1’785’000
The project in brief
Background Switzerland supports conflict transformation in Georgia, including the breakaway region of Abkhazia, through the efforts of the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) and SDC humanitarian assistance. This project improves water and sanitation (WASH) facilities in Abkhazia's public schools. Many schools in Abkhazia still lack adequate WASH facilities due to the armed conflict in the 1990s, followed by long-term under investment and neglect. In rural areas, access to clean water remains limited. The mentioned challenges pose significant health risks to children. The previous phase improved WASH facilities in nearly half of the 152 public schools, benefiting up to 13’400 children. The proposed phase will strengthen WASH maintenance systems, continue to promote hygiene education, and upgrade infrastructure in fortythree of the remaining schools. Additionally, the project will pilot affordable sewage water and fecal sludge treatment systems in five schools.
Objectives The well-being of schoolchildren in Abkhazia is increased due to improved sanitary and hygiene conditions in schools and surrounding communities.
Target groups Direct beneficiaries: 6’100 schoolchildren aged 5 to 17, with a representation of all districts (including Sukhumi city) and major ethnic groups including the Abkhaz, Georgian and Armenian populations. Teachers at the targeted schools. The target population indirectly benefiting from the project include: the families of the targeted schoolchildren and the communities where targeted schools, school children and teachers are located.
Medium-term outcomes Outcome 1: WASH facilities in schools are rehabilitated with respect to JMP (Joint Monitoring Programme) WHO/UNICEF standards. Outcome 2: Sustainable management of WASH facilities in schools is strengthened. Outcome 3: Schoolchildren, school management and teachers understand the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation, the importance of environment friendly behavior in context of climate change, and apply relevant daily good practices. Outcome 4: Blackwater effluent is properly treated on site before being discharged and fecal sludge is handled properly and neutralized before being disposed, in accordance with WHO/UNICEF standards. Outcome 5: Community-based approaches to the provision of quality services for children are successfully maintained
