About Us

Created in 2011, the Swiss Water and Sanitation Consortium (SWSC) brings together eight Swiss NGOs – Caritas Switzerland, Fastenopfer, HEKS-EPER, HELVETAS Swiss IntercooperationSolidar Suisse, SwissaidSwiss Red Cross and Terre des hommes – implementing jointly a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in Africa and Asia. Besides providing access to WASH services, it also proved successful in experience-sharing and learning, as well as strengthening the Swiss profile in advocacy and policy dialogue.

After completing two successful phases, Phase III was launched in April 2020, with WASH in institutions as an entry point to increase water and sanitation coverage in 16 projects in 12 countries. The focus is on rolling out SWSC's signature approaches, Blue Schools and WASH in Health Care Facilities, and on building solid evidence of their success for further advocacy. The SWSC is co-financed by the the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as well as the consortium member organizations.

Overall goal

The SWSC aims to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable in developing countries, through increased use of sustainable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services at home, in schools and in health centers. The joint knowledge and expertise on achieving sustainable WASH services in institutions enables the SWSC to replicate good practices and influence policies and global frameworks. The SWSC thereby contributes to working more effectively towards the SDGs, i.e. goal 6 on water as well as goal 3 on wellbeing (health care facilities) and goal 4 on education (schools).

Strategy

Building on solid experiences, the SWSC will focuses on WASH in institutions through its two signature approaches Blue Schools and WASH in Health Care Facilities as a strategic entry point to have an impact in the communities (besides working directly in the communities). The added-value of the SWSC consists in combining practical field expertise in WASH, with knowledge sharing and learning, networking, partnership and a critical mass of projects to adapt, refine and build evidence of the signature approaches, as well as joining forces to influence sector policies and advocate at global level.

Structure

We are structured around three regions: Francophone Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa and South and Southeast Asia. In each of the consortium regions, a regional advisor supports the projects according to the needs and promotes knowledge sharing. The Consortium Steering Board –  comprising representatives from the eight member organisations – determines the strategic orientation, whereas the Consortium Management Unit ensures the operational management of the SWSC.

SWSC_Structure