Pathways to universal WASH coverage in Ghana: lessons from scaling Asutifi North’s master planning approach

This paper provides a detailed practical reflection on the pathways used to replicate the Asutifi North district-based approach for achieving universal universal water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) coverage on a wider scale. The lessons and experiences garnered from the district-led approach will provide the blueprint to inform sector discussions on the challenges of scaling from a pilot in a district to the regional and national level. These reflections are based on an evaluation of master planning conducted under IRC's work in Ghana, supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

The objective of this paper is to provide deeper insights into the master planning approach implemented in Asutifi North and its replication, assessing what worked, what did not, and areas for improvement. Lessons from this process will guide stakeholders at all levels looking to adopt and scale this innovation in their respective areas. Ultimately this will contribute to the goal of Ghana to enhance access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, promote the sustainable management of water resources in Ghana by 2030, in alignment with with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).