At Splash, we clean water for kids. And we want kids to have clean water whether or not Splash is the one providing it. In fact, we’d prefer that WASH services are locally provided and managed. That’s why Splash was founded with an exit strategy in mind—both at the country level and as an organization.

As we continue our work in new countries in East Africa, we begin with a plan to strategically and sustainably exit. We’ll prioritize embedding WASH into government policy and funding. As we draw down, we will transfer direct implementation of WASH to local organizations and governments and share our materials and designs.

To truly bring about sustainable systems change, we focus on:

  • Sanitation Solutions – We recognize the solution may rely on factors outside the school grounds, like water pipes and sewer systems. By working with local partners like municipal governments, we can address systemic sanitation issues in schools.
  • Leveraging Existing Supply Chains – Partnering with industries like food and hospitality, who may already be using or manufacturing components we use in school WASH infrastructure create scalable and cost-effective solutions.
  • Local Ownership & Maintenance – Local training programs and partnerships hand over the reins to communities so they can maintain infrastructure independently of Splash in the long term.
  • Systems, Services, and Schools – Splash fosters collaboration between these often siloed sectors, influencing budgets and platforms that include school WASH in the long term.


Exit Intent

A strategic exit means we aim to transition full ownership of our programs to local governments, schools, and community partners. This has been part of our DNA since the organization was founded in 2007. Our planned exit from each country we work in involves:

  • Capacity Building – Splash trains local governments, school staff, and community organizations to manage and maintain WASH infrastructure. This ensures that schools and institutions have the skills and knowledge to sustain improvements. Rather than creating dependency, Splash focuses on transferring ownership of water stations, hygiene education programs, and sanitation facilities to local entities.
  • Long-term Partnerships – Establishing collaborations with governments and NGOs to ensure continued support. We collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, and local businesses to embed WASH services into national and municipal systems, ensuring ongoing investment and oversight.
  • Monitoring & Evaluation – Before exiting, Splash establishes maintenance programs and trains local teams to ensure that infrastructure, such as water filtration systems and handwashing stations, remains operational. Furthermore, we use monitoring and evaluation metrics to assess program effectiveness before gradually withdrawing. This approach ensures that our impact is measurable and sustainable.

By implementing sustainable and scalable solutions, we can ensure that the impact remains long after our direct involvement ends.


Successful Exits

Over time, Splash has opened eight country offices and systematically transferred ownership to local entities in six of those countries. In some instances, small nonprofits are the best option to take over our work; in others, for-profit social enterprises serve the need best. We have even handed over our body of work to governments and to one of the largest global nonprofits.

No matter the country, there will always be a better local solution than an INGO, and Splash has championed this belief since our founding.

  • Nepal – After nearly a decade working in hundreds of schools in Kathmandu, Splash transferred ownership of our work and relationships to two local Nepali nonprofits who continue providing operations and maintenance support to schools.
  • Bangladesh – In 2013, after working in 70 schools across two of Bangladesh’s largest cities, Splash handed over our core curriculum and WINS model to BRAC.
  • China – Splash aimed to reach every state-run orphanage, bringing clean water and hygiene education to thousands of vulnerable children. After achieving 100% coverage of all orphanages across the country, Splash’s country director stepped in to facilitate an ongoing relationship between the private sector and the government to ensure sustainability of Splash’s work without our representation in the country.
  • Cambodia – In 2015, Splash’s country director launched a small business to provide ongoing operations and maintenance support to the hospitals, schools, orphanages, and shelters where Splash had previously worked.
  • Thailand – in 2014, a publicly traded filtration company took over operations and maintenance support of all Splash sites in the country.
  • Ethiopia – In Addis Ababa, Splash has successfully installed water filtration systems and drinking and handwashing stations in every public school, impacting over 560,000 children. To ensure long-term success, Splash trained local education and health officials to oversee hygiene programs, partnered with the Addis Ababa Education Bureau to integrate hygiene education into the school curriculum, and is establishing maintenance agreements so that local authorities take ownership of system upkeep. Now, with clear government support and institutionalized WASH policies, Splash is beginning to transition out, knowing that the city’s schools can sustain and expand the program independently.


Seven Exit Criteria

As we move into Phase II of Project WISE, we are refining our exit strategy. We came up with seven exit criteria based on what we’ve learned and experienced over the last two decades:

  1. A functional and reliable supply chain of WASH infrastructure parts and supplies exists in support of operations and maintenance providers
  2. Minimum quality standards for WASH in Schools (WINS) and national curricula for hygiene and menstrual health are in place at the city and/or national level
  3. Committed financing for future WASH capital expenditures are identified and accessible – either at the national, city, or school level
  4. Budgeted funds for a minimum of ten years are in place and demonstrated capacity by local partners to do WINS operations and maintenance
  5. A reliable network of local partners (government, NGOs, civil society, etc.) exists with the capacity to implement and support WINS beyond Project WISE
  6. An affordable and cost-effective WINS package has been demonstrated at scale and is feasible for local partners to replicate
  7. A national roadmap for WINS scaling and replication is in place by relevant government ministries


Why This Matters

Splash’s exit strategy is about ensuring that clean water, hygiene education, and sanitation improvements remain permanent. By transferring ownership, investing in local capacity, and securing government and community buy-in, Splash’s goal is to have an ongoing positive impact long after our presence.

Join the Movement

These success stories demonstrate that sustainable solutions are possible—but there’s still more work to be done. Your support can clean water for even more schools, kids, and communities.

Donate today to ensure that every child has access to clean water and hygiene education. Together, we can make lasting change a reality.