SKYBIRD Programme: Final Evaluation Report

Skybird is a programme about innovation and collaboration in the field of WASH (water, sani-tation and hygiene) for improved living conditions in East Africa (EA). EA is generally consid-ered one of the poorest regions in the world, with several countries in the region experiencing high levels of poverty, inequality, and economic underdevelopment. Factors contributing to poverty in the region include limited access to healthcare and basic infrastructure, as well as environmental challenges such as drought and natural disasters.
Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is a significant challenge in many parts of EA, with a large proportion of the population lacking access to basic WASH services. Accord-ing to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), in 2020, an estimated 75 % of the population in EA did not have access to basic sanitation facili-ties, 42 % did not have access to at least basic drinking water and 78 % lacked access to basic hygiene services (WHO/UNICEF JMP 2021). Women and girls in particular are dispropor-tionately affected by WASH challenges, exposing them to disadvantages and risks.
Against the background of these problems, the Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) together with its partners and funded by ADA (Austrian Development Agency), Swiss Red Cross (SRC) and Au-tRC have set up a 5-year regional WASH project designed to tackle WASH challenges in EA. It is the overall objective of the Skybird programme to contribute to improved living conditions – including health, environment and livelihood – in EA, addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 6, 16 and 17. More specifically, the Skybird programme aims to strengthen capacities and partnerships of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) movement for more effec-tive and gender sensitive interventions in WASH and related fields.