WashDesk: Strengthening Water and Sanitation Systems in Ghana
Transforming Water & Sanitation Accountability in Ghana
Bridging the Gap Between Communities and WASH Systems
Access to clean water and sanitation is essential for public health and economic stability. Yet, many communities—including those we serve in Ghana—face systemic challenges, including service breakdowns, lack of communication channels, and unreliable infrastructure management. Even when WASH systems exist, they often fail due to gaps in management and the absence of structured feedback mechanisms.
That’s where the WashDesk comes in. Created by Netcentric Campaigns, WashDesk applies a networked customer service model to the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector—helping communities connect with the right people, track issues, and drive solutions. By strengthening feedback loops, improving communication, and fostering accountability, WatchDesk is transforming the way WASH services are delivered, ensuring that water and sanitation systems actually work for the people they are meant to serve.
How WashDesk Drives Change
WashDesk strengthens WASH systems by creating better systems for communication, issue tracking, and public engagement.
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Connecting People to Solutions: WashDesk creates clear channels for residents to report water and sanitation issues, ensuring concerns reach the right authorities.
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Providing Real-Time Feedback Loops: Through toll-free hotlines, community radio, WhatsApp groups, and digital platforms, WashDesk enables continuous two-way communication between citizens and WASH providers.
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Strengthening Local Leadership & Accountability: A dedicated advisory group ensures transparency, tracks reported issues, and pushes for action, increasing trust and participation.
Why This Work Matters
WASH challenges persist not due to a lack of infrastructure, but due to communication and service breakdowns. Many communities have long faced obstacles in ensuring sustainable access to clean water and sanitation. The following real-world challenges highlight the need for a stronger, more connected approach to WASH services:
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66% of users in one district weren’t contributing to operational costs — not because they didn’t want to, but because they didn’t trust the system.
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8% of handpumps were non-functional, and 20% had been broken for over a year — often because no one knew how or where to report the problem.
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Limited communication between communities and service providers — leading to delays in repairs, lack of accountability, and frustration among residents.
By organizing community members, amplifying voices, and fostering collaboration, WashDesk ensures that WASH systems aren’t just built—they function, improve, and truly serve the people who rely on them.
Impact & Results: Measurable Change in WASH Systems
What started as a pilot program in the Asutifi North region testing a community-driven customer service model for WASH governance has grown into a large-scale initiative, now reaching six districts across the Ahafo Region and serving 500,000 people.
By building on the successes of the pilot, WashDesk has expanded its impact, strengthening communication networks, increasing service accountability, and ensuring more communities have access to reliable water and sanitation services.
✔ Improving resolution rates for reported WASH issues, ensuring faster repairs and service improvements.
✔ Hundreds of thousands reached monthly through radio, WhatsApp, and direct outreach, improving WASH literacy and engagement.
✔ Established a toll-free hotline, making it easier for residents to report water and sanitation concerns.
✔ Strengthened coordination between governments, NGOs, and local leaders, leading to faster issue resolution.
✔ Integrated WashDesk customer service model into district governance structures, ensuring long-term sustainability.
✔ Supported major public campaigns, including World Water Day and Handwashing Awareness initiatives, to drive behavior change.
These successes illustrate the power of a networked customer service approach, proving that when people are connected, supported, and equipped with the right tools, they can drive systemic change. By strengthening communication networks, fostering collaboration, and empowering local leadership, WashDesk is not just solving problems—it's reshaping how water and sanitation services function for generations to come.
Learn More & Get Involved
Whether you're interested in learning more about this initiative or discovering how people-powered, network-driven solutions can strengthen your advocacy and public services projects, we invite you to take the next step.
Explore the WashDesk Project
Learn more about how WashDesk is improving WASH accountability and access in Ghana. Visit WashDesk.org
Connect with Netcentric Campaigns
Discover how we build and support effective advocacy networks to drive social change. Contact us to learn more.
Updates and News
Building the Network One SMS at a Time
In its first year, WashDesk in Asunafo North reached over 5,700 SMS subscribers, representing one of the fastest ramps in the program.
That momentum reflects not just strong interest, but more efficient network systems and more coordinated outreach. With over 40,000 subscribers now connected across six districts, SMS continues to serve as a vital channel.
WashDesk is helping people stay informed, take action, and build stronger networks for water and sanitation.
Water Quality Testing Builds Trust
WashDesk and the Aquaya Institute recently shared water testing results with 14 communities in Ghana’s Asutifi North District, turning data into dialogue.
Residents learned which water supplies were safe and which required attention, along with practical steps like flushing systems and replacing old parts.
The effort underscored the power of networks: schools, households, and health facilities came together in open conversation, trust was built through transparency, and 312 new members joined the Wash Network to strengthen collective action.
See the Moment? Take the Opportunity
When teams working on Ghana’s National Household Registry began outreach in rural areas, the WASH Network saw a window – and jumped through it.
Rather than wait for their own event, local WASH advocates integrated directly into the GNHR effort, piggybacking on an existing public campaign to build connections, share resources, and bring 200+ new people into the WASH communications grid.
It’s a great reminder: in networked work, sometimes the most powerful results come from recognizing the moment – and moving fast. Community gatherings already underway became a platform for deeper engagement, wider reach, and new links between residents, services, and the WASH system
Advancing Menstrual Health Through Action
To mark Menstrual Hygiene Day, the WashDesk network and partners in Ghana’s Ahafo region launched coordinated efforts to promote menstrual health and equity. The campaign included events and a live radio broadcast where WASH leaders discussed hygiene, stigma, and inclusive support for girls.
The outreach encouraged open dialogue and audience engagement. Netcentric Campaigns and the Ahafo RCC also provided sanitary pads and educational materials to over 500 girls in Asutifi South. These efforts reflect the power of community-driven advocacy to tackle health taboos and improve outcomes for young people.
Menstrual Hygiene and Handwashing Day Activities
In the coming weeks, the WashDesk network in Ghana’s Ahafo Region will mobilize around Global Menstrual Hygiene Day and Global Handwashing Day. Backed by the Ghana Health Service and local leaders, the events will promote education, dignity, and awareness for often-overlooked health issues.
Activities include distributing exercise books, sanitary pads, and backpacks to students, along with outreach to break taboos and boost girls’ school attendance. These efforts highlight the network’s ability to address real community needs with cultural sensitivity, advancing health and gender equity through care and coordination.
International Women's Day Showcases Network Strength
The WashDesk network marked International Women’s Day with coordinated WASH campaigns across all six districts in Ghana’s Ahafo region. Network members led radio broadcasts, parades, educational events, and community gatherings to elevate women’s voices in advancing water and sanitation.
Thousands signed up for ongoing WASH messaging, new volunteers joined, and community concerns were channeled to district advisory groups. These efforts show how literacy and behavior change rely on sustained, unified action. The event was a key milestone in strengthening network cohesion and showcasing the power of local collaboration.
In-Person Training as a Foundation for Network Resilience
More than 100 district leaders—including WashDesk teams, local officials, and community leaders—gathered in Goaso for a two-day training led by Ogilvy Ghana, Netcentric Campaigns, and local government.
The sessions focused on strategic communications and introduced the upcoming Nsuo Ne Nkwa (Water is Life) campaign. Ahafo Regional Minister Charity Gardiner addressed participants, pledging support for improved water and sanitation. A separate Accra briefing brought together national WASH partners to build alignment and momentum for the campaign’s rollout across districts and communities in the region.
New Public Engagement Campaign Expands WASH Advocacy
The WashDesk program is rolling out a nationwide public engagement campaign, “My Home. My Pride.”, developed in partnership with Ogilvy Africa to encourage community-driven WASH improvements. The initiative taps into local pride to promote lasting behavior change in sanitation and hygiene practices.
Netcentric Campaigns recently visited the region to see the efforts firsthand—connecting with local leaders, schools, and artisans. By blending digital, grassroots, and educational outreach, this initiative is creating stronger community involvement and sustainable impact.
Empowering WASH Leaders: New E-Learning Program Launches
Netcentric Campaigns has launched an innovative e-learning platform to strengthen the capabilities of WashDesk officers in Ghana’s Ahafo Region. This digital training complements in-person sessions, offering flexible access to resources on network building, leadership development, and effective community engagement.
By bridging logistical challenges, the program equips leaders with the tools and confidence to foster stronger connections and support their communities more effectively. Participants have praised the platform for accelerating their understanding and enhancing their roles within the network. This initiative exemplifies Netcentric Campaigns’ commitment to empowering local leaders through scalable digital solutions.
Driving Leadership for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Initiatives in Ghana
At the recent UNC Water and Health Conference, the WASH team presented their work in the Ahafo region of Ghana, where they are leveraging client-service approaches to achieve region-wide WASH coverage by 2030.
Through strategic partnerships, innovative tools, and community engagement, the program is transforming lives by addressing challenges such as infrastructure gaps, leadership accountability, and hygiene literacy.
With support from IRC Ghana and the Hilton Foundation, the program now spans all six districts in the region, aiming for sustainable impact.