Programs of Scale
Rotary to scale proven water and sanitation initiative in Haiti
Program aims to improve living conditions and reduce waterborne disease by 25% in three local government areas in Haiti by 2030
As conflict, recurring natural disasters, climate change, and geographic disparities continue to disrupt access to clean water and sanitation services across Haiti, millions of people remain highly vulnerable to waterborne and hygiene-related illnesses.
Rotary is expanding a collaborative national model, the Haiti National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Initiative (HANWASH), that has proven success working with 11 water service providers to maintain infrastructure and sustain paid access to clean water and sanitation.
The scaled-up effort, Collaboration for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems in Haiti — led by Rotary clubs in Haiti and the Caribbean in partnership with nonprofits and government bodies including Haiti Outreach and Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable et de l’Assainissement (DINEPA) — aims to improve access to clean and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene while strengthening demand, governance, and sustainable use for approximately 70,000 people in Cavaillon, Ferrier, and Pignon by 2030.
The program will strengthen community capacity to develop, maintain, and expand pay-for-service clean water and sanitation services by:
- working with women and other local leaders in 40 urban and rural communities to build demand for high-quality water services and promote the benefits of fee-based clean water access and healthy hygiene practices, including handwashing and avoiding open defecation;
- coordinating the construction and restoration of clean water systems while training local operators and community leaders to strengthen governance and ensure sustainable management and monitoring of water services; and
- driving accountability and community buy-in as water service providers in the selected communities will contribute 10% of their revenue to regional and national water regulatory bodies to further expand clean water and sanitation services.
Collaboration for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems in Haiti is Rotary’s sixth Programs of Scale recipient — an annual competitive grant process that awards funding to an evidence-based program that aligns with one of Rotary’s causes and has the capability for scaling-up to help more people. The programs are sponsored by Rotary members in collaboration with local communities and partner organizations.
“Rotary members across the Caribbean and Haiti are working side by side with local partners to deliver lasting solutions that protect health and strengthen communities,” said Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. “By supporting Collaboration for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems in Haiti, Rotary will be able to help more people gain access to safe water and sanitation—one of the most basic human needs—and lay the groundwork for a healthier, more resilient Haiti.”
Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, help mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment. Over the last 100 years, US $5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service.
Holger Knaack, Chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees said,
Neil Van Dine, Haiti Outreach Co-founder and Director and a member of the Rotary E-Club of WASH said,
“Since 1997, Haiti Outreach has helped lead the development of a community-led model for safe water access in rural Haiti built on durable infrastructure, local leadership, and long-term management. This approach has reached more than 300,000 people across 550 communities and helped shape WASH practice nationally. We are proud to partner through Rotary to help scale this Haitian-led model across the country.”
Edwige Petit, Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable et de l’Assainissement (DINEPA) Director of Sanitation said,
“Rotary, through its HANWASH program, supports the Haitian government’s efforts to achieve the goals of access to clean, safe drinking water for all as well as ending open defecation in rural and peri urban communities. As the regulatory body for the sector within the Haitian government, Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable et de l’Assainissement (DINEPA) is amenable to continuing this collaboration and extending clean water access to every Haitian.”
FAQ’s
General Overview
What is HANWASH?
HANWASH, the Haiti National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiative, is a collaborative effort working to strengthen sustainable water and sanitation systems across Haiti.
Rather than focusing only on individual infrastructure projects, HANWASH works alongside Haitian institutions, communities, Rotary leaders, technical partners, and implementing organizations to strengthen the systems that make reliable WASH services possible over time.
Water is the outcome. Systems are the work.
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What does HANWASH stand for?
HANWASH stands for the Haiti National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiative.
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What does “WASH” mean?
WASH stands for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.
Within Rotary International, WASH work is part of Rotary’s Areas of Focus related to clean water, sanitation, hygiene, disease prevention, and community health.
HANWASH approaches WASH as more than infrastructure alone. Sustainable WASH systems require reliable service delivery, community engagement, long-term maintenance, governance, and coordination across sectors.
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What problem is HANWASH trying to solve?
Millions of people in Haiti continue to face unreliable access to safe water and sanitation. Historically, many projects across the sector have struggled with long-term sustainability due to fragmented implementation, limited maintenance systems, insufficient governance support, and lack of coordinated investment.
HANWASH exists to help address those systemic challenges through collaboration, professionalized service delivery, governance strengthening, and long-term planning.
The HANWASH Model
What is the HANWASH model?
HANWASH advances a collaborative systems-based approach built around three core pillars:
- Strengthened demand and local management of WASH systems
- Improved and reliable WASH service delivery
- Collective action and government alignment for long-term scaling and sustainability
Together, these pillars help communities move beyond short-term projects toward sustainable access to safe water and sanitation.
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What does “systems-based” mean?
A systems-based approach focuses on improving the underlying conditions that allow safe water and sanitation services to function reliably over time.
That includes:
- Infrastructure
- Governance
- Financing
- Maintenance systems
- Workforce capacity
- Supply chains
- Community engagement
- Institutional coordination
- Accountability and monitoring
Without strong systems, infrastructure alone often fails over time.
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How is HANWASH different from a traditional water charity?
Many traditional approaches focus primarily on constructing wells or delivering short-term infrastructure projects.
HANWASH focuses on strengthening the systems required for reliable service delivery over time. That includes:
- Community engagement and local ownership
- Professionalized operations and maintenance
- Governance and coordination
- Long-term planning
- Stakeholder alignment
- Sustainable financing and oversight
The goal is not simply to install infrastructure. The goal is sustained access to safe water and sanitation.
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Does HANWASH build wells?
HANWASH itself is not primarily a direct implementer of water infrastructure projects.
Instead, HANWASH serves as a collaborative platform that helps coordinate partners, align investments, support planning, strengthen governance, and ensure projects contribute to larger long-term systems goals.
Infrastructure projects may be implemented by experienced Haitian and international technical partners working in alignment with HANWASH goals and standards.
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What is HANWASH 2.0?
HANWASH 2.0 represents the evolution of the initiative from a collection of individual projects into a coordinated systems-strengthening model focused on sustainable service delivery at scale. This phase emphasizes:
- Commune-level planning and coordination
- Professionalized service delivery
- Governance strengthening
- Data-informed decision making
- Long-term sustainability
- Alignment across stakeholders and funding partners
Programs of Scale
What is the Rotary Programs of Scale grant?
The The Rotary Foundation Programs of Scale initiative is a competitive global grant opportunity designed to support evidence-based programs with the potential to create measurable impact at scale.
HANWASH was selected through this highly competitive process because of its collaborative systems-based approach and long-term vision for sustainable WASH services in Haiti.
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Did HANWASH receive $2 million per year from Rotary?
No.
The Programs of Scale award is up to approximately US$2 million total over a multi-year implementation period from The Rotary Foundation.
The broader initiative is expected to help mobilize additional aligned investments and partnerships over time.
Programs of Scale is not a grant program where money is divided evenly among participating communities. It is a long-term systems initiative designed to strengthen sustainable service delivery over time.
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Is HANWASH only working in three communes?
No.
While initial implementation efforts and Programs of Scale activities may begin in specific communes, the long-term vision of HANWASH is much broader.
HANWASH was designed as a collaborative national initiative intended to strengthen sustainable water and sanitation systems across Haiti over time through scalable models, aligned partnerships, institutional collaboration, and long-term systems strengthening.
The work in initial communes is intended to help develop, refine, and demonstrate approaches that can support broader expansion and long-term impact.
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Why was HANWASH selected for the Programs of Scale initiative?
HANWASH demonstrated:
- Strong collaboration across sectors
- Alignment with Haitian public institutions
- A systems-based approach to sustainability
- Long-term strategic planning
- Potential for scalable impact
- Strong Rotary engagement and leadership
- Emphasis on measurable outcomes and learning
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How will Programs of Scale funding be distributed across communes or projects?
Programs of Scale funding is designed to strengthen long-term water and sanitation systems, not simply fund individual construction projects.
This may include investments in infrastructure, technical assistance, governance strengthening, professional service delivery, training, monitoring systems, and community engagement activities.
Some communes or projects may receive direct infrastructure investments at different phases of implementation, while others may benefit through technical support, capacity building, planning, or systems-strengthening activities that improve long-term sustainability.
The goal of Programs of Scale is not short-term distribution of funds, but long-term improvement of reliable water and sanitation services across Haiti.
Partnerships & Governance
Does HANWASH work with the Haitian government?
Yes.
HANWASH works in alignment with Haitian public institutions responsible for water and sanitation oversight, including:
- DINEPA
- Regional water and sanitation authorities (OREPAs)
Sustainable progress requires collaboration with Haitian leadership and institutions.
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Is HANWASH a Haitian organization?
HANWASH is a collaborative initiative involving Haitian leadership, communities, institutions, Rotary leaders, and international partners.
The work is designed to support Haitian-led systems and long-term local capacity.
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Who are HANWASH’s partners?
HANWASH works with a broad coalition of partners, including:
- Rotary clubs and districts
- Haitian public institutions
- Technical implementing organizations
- NGOs
- Philanthropic supporters
- Corporate and foundation partners
- Community stakeholders
HANWASH Partnerships
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How does Rotary fit into HANWASH?
Rotary International and Rotary leaders help convene partners, mobilize resources, build relationships, advocate for collaboration, and support long-term stewardship of the initiative.
Rotary’s role is increasingly focused on catalytic leadership and systems-level impact rather than isolated short-term projects.
Impact & Accountability
How is donor funding used?
Donor support helps strengthen the systems required for sustainable WASH services, including:
- Infrastructure improvements
- Professional staffing and technical expertise
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Governance strengthening
- Community engagement
- Coordination and planning
- Capacity building
- Long-term sustainability efforts
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Does HANWASH provide financial transparency?
Yes.
HANWASH is committed to transparency, accountability, and measurable impact. The organization works to provide clear reporting, responsible stewardship of donor funds, and ongoing communication about progress and challenges.
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How does HANWASH measure success?
Success is measured not only by infrastructure installed, but by long-term service reliability and systems improvement. Metrics may include:
- Sustained access to safe water
- Reliability and functionality of systems
- Governance capacity
- Service delivery improvements
- Community participation
- Stakeholder coordination
- Long-term operational sustainability
Get Involved
Can I still support a specific commune, project, or Global Grant?
Yes.
HANWASH continues to welcome support for commune-level projects, infrastructure improvements, and Rotary Global Grants that align with Haiti’s broader national water and sanitation strategy.
What makes HANWASH different is that individual projects are connected to a larger systems-based approach designed to help water and sanitation services remain functional, managed, and sustainable over time.
This means support may include not only infrastructure, but also elements such as:
- Professionalized service delivery
- Local governance and oversight
- Operator training and technical support
- Community engagement and demand generation
- Monitoring, maintenance, and long-term sustainability
Whether a donor supports a specific community or the broader HANWASH initiative, every investment contributes to strengthening long-term access to safe water and sanitation across Haiti.
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How can I support HANWASH?
There are several ways to support the mission:
- Make a financial contribution
- Become a monthly donor
- Partner as an organization or sponsor
- Engage your Rotary club or district
- Advocate and raise awareness
- Introduce HANWASH to potential funding partners
Donate to HANWASH
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Can my Rotary club partner with HANWASH?
Yes.
HANWASH regularly works with Rotary clubs and districts interested in sustainable, collaborative WASH impact in Haiti.
Potential opportunities may include:
- Global Grant collaboration
- District partnerships
- Educational presentations
- Advocacy and awareness
- Technical partnerships
- Fundraising support
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Where does HANWASH currently work?
HANWASH supports collaborative WASH efforts across multiple regions and communes in Haiti through aligned partnerships and projects.
Specific implementation activities may vary over time based on local needs, funding, partnerships, and strategic priorities.
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How can I stay updated?
You can stay connected through:
- The HANWASH website
- Email newsletters
- Social media channels
- Rotary presentations and events
