Consultancy services for the Hands4Health Programme - a systematic approach to WASH challenges
Location
Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Palestine, Switzerland
project period
01.03.2024 – 31.05.2025
client
Skat Foundation and the Hands4Health Programme
Services provided
Consultancy
Facilitation & Innovative Learning
Partner organisation
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW); Cesvi; EPFL – LTQE; Martin Systems GmbH; Palestine Polytechnic University; RANAS; Skat Foundation; Swiss TPH; Terre des hommes; and the University of Maiduguri.
Project website
The assignment supported the Hands4Health (H4H) Programme by coordinating the development of practical guides that synthesised project results into user-friendly, step-by-step tools for implementation in diverse contexts.
SKAT Consulting worked in close collaboration with the Skat Foundation and consortium partners under the leadership of FHNW. The assignment strengthened knowledge uptake by translating research and field experience into actionable resources, enabling wider application and scaling.
Hands4Health is a joint research initiative of NGOs, academia, and private sector partners that developed and tested a systemic approach to improving WASH services in schools and healthcare facilities without reliable water supply, particularly in underserved contexts. The project was implemented in four countries by a consortium of ten partners, led by FHNW.
The approach integrated technology, management, monitoring, and behaviour change to strengthen local systems and ensure effective and sustainable WASH interventions.
A set of practical tools was developed to support implementation and scaling, structured across four domains:
· Hardware: water access, handwashing, distribution, storage and treatment
· Management: monitoring and evaluation, preventive maintenance, WASHFIT
· Behaviour Change: IPC, RANAS (health facilities and schools)
· Cross-cutting: impact evaluations, Hands4Health approach, Theory of Change