22-09-2025 | di COOPI

Ethiopia. Reconstructing lives and infrastructure in Tigray

In the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, the end of the conflict in 2022 marked the beginning of a complex and long-term recovery process. The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure has had severe consequences for communities, limiting access to essential services and exacerbating the vulnerability of already fragile populations.

To address the challenges in the region, COOPI is intervening, in consortium with Plan International, through the project “Integrated multisectoral emergency intervention, including the provision of multi-purpose cash assistance, in response to the needs of vulnerable populations affected by the humanitarian crisis in Tigray”, funded by the Italian Cooperation. The objective is to restore access to basic services and support communities in rebuilding their livelihoods, promoting dignity and resilience.

Two water points within a 5-minute walk

In the kebele of Gendebeta, in the woreda of Adwa, the stories of many women reflect the daily difficulties faced by numerous families in the post-conflict period, but also serve as a concrete example of resilience and change.

Before the project began, accessing water required long journeys and involved significant risks: girls and young women walked nearly a kilometer every day to reach the nearest water point, where long queues and frequent pump breakdowns meant waiting for hours. During peak times, tensions could escalate into conflict, sometimes forcing girls to seek alternative sources that were farther away and less safe, returning home late and exhausted. This situation also negatively affected girls’ regular school attendance.

Thanks to the project, two water points have been rehabilitated and are now located just five minutes from people’s homes. This has significantly reduced waiting times and ensured safe access to water. During the rehabilitation phase, hygiene and sanitation items were also distributed, including water treatment products.

These interventions have brought about tangible changes in daily life. Better hygiene practices have improved health conditions; furthermore, women now have more time to devote to their families, and children are able to attend school more regularly.

I would like to thank COOPI for reaching me and my community in the time of need. – Alganesh Assefa Abay, project beneficiary.

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COOPI has been present in Ethiopia since 1995, providing humanitarian and development assistance through a multi-sectoral and integrated approach. The organisation focuses on supporting vulnerable populations, including those internally displaced by conflict or natural disasters, accompanying them in rebuilding their lives and communities. To date, COOPI has reached over 10,000,000 direct beneficiaries through the implementation of 164 projects in the country.