We know that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming is most powerful and sustainable when it's led by those who know their communities best. As we expand Project WISE into new cities across Southern and Eastern Africa, it's clear that the success of our work depends on strong local implementing partners.

But how do we find new partners to work with?

Collaboration begins with a shared vision: clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene education for every child in every public school. But beyond mission alignment, we look for organizations that are deeply rooted in the places they serve. We seek partners led by national professionals, trusted by local communities, and aligned with government priorities.

Here’s what we prioritize as we are identifying potential partners for Phase II of Project WISE:

Local

We prioritize organizations that are part of the communities they serve, not just operating within them. That means being legally registered in-country, governed by a local board, and led by national staff. This ensures legitimacy, ownership, and long-term accountability.

Local, Again

A sustainable WASH program requires adaptive teams who understand the local context, speak the local languages, and can problem-solve in real time. We seek partners where at least 80 percent of staff are national professionals. This includes engineers, monitoring and evaluation specialists, and community mobilizers. We also look for organizations with national leadership at the executive level.

Proven

Typically, we're not looking for organizations just getting off the ground. We’re looking for those with a demonstrated ability to implement WASH programs at scale. Successful partners have experience with integrated approaches that combine infrastructure, behavior change, governance, and supply chain support. They also know how to navigate local regulatory frameworks and have worked in a variety of settings, including rural, peri-urban, and urban areas.

Strong Systems

Large-scale work demands strong internal systems. We look for partners that manage their own auditable financial systems, operate local procurement processes, and meet high standards for donor compliance. Ideally, these partners have a solid track record of managing donor funds responsibly.

Trusted

Change doesn’t happen in isolation. We seek organizations that are recognized by government authorities and trusted by the communities they serve. This includes participating in national WASH coordination platforms, building relationships with schools and health facilities, and being known for their presence and effectiveness in the community.

Sustainability-Minded

We look for partners who want to change systems for the better by embedding sustainability into every step of implementation. That means supporting school committees and utilities, planning for long-term operations and maintenance, strengthening supply chains, and aligning with national WASH strategies and global indicators like Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Did We Say Local?

To stay true to our values of local ownership, we seek partners that are independent and self-governing. These organizations are not branch offices of international NGOs. They may receive funding or technical assistance from international actors, but they retain full decision-making authority and program ownership.

Stay Flexible

While these criteria guide our partner selection, we recognize that local realities can vary. In some cities, it may be challenging to find partners who meet every requirement. That’s okay. We apply our criteria with flexibility and make context-specific decisions that prioritize sustainability and impact.

As we scale Project WISE, our partners will continue to be crucial to our work. This approach ensures that the impact is not only effective but owned by local institutions long into the future. Together, we are building lasting systems that improve children’s lives for generations to come.

Want to know more about how we partner, where we’re expanding, or what it takes to become a local implementing partner? Contact us or explore Project WISE.