Drop of Water
Drop of Water
Broader Sectors
- Health - Afya/Health
- Education - Sani/Wisdom
- Climate - Asase
Demographic Focus
- Rural Communities
Cohort: 04
- East Africa
- Ethiopia
Drop of Water (DoW) was established in 2009 to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation while promoting healthy hygiene practices to communities in rural parts of Ethiopia.
The Differentiator
Drop of Water has a comprehensive 3-step sustainability approach: firstly, providing access to clean water; secondly, assisting communities in creating strategic plans for water-scarce areas; and lastly, implementing the Aware, Active, and Change campaign. This campaign engages professionals and university students in learning about, advocating for, and creating water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions within their communities.
Why Their Work Matters
Approximately 39 million rural Ethiopians lack a safe water supply, and nearly 48 million are without basic sanitation. Limited access to safe water and inadequate sanitation contribute to 60-80% of communicable diseases, while 50% of undernutrition consequences are linked to poor hygiene and water supply. In response, DoW builds water wells and supports rural communities, fostering ownership and creating community champions to drive demand for improved WASH services and delivery.
Partner Impact
Leadership Highlight
Hermella Wondimu Woldehana
Hermella has more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit management, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and fundraising. As co-founder of Drop of Water (DoW), she played a crucial leadership role in building and transforming the organization from a university students’ local initiative to a nationally recognized NGO. Hermella is an Effective communicator who applies systems thinking to DoW management to ensure maximum resources support the organizational mission.
Driven by passion and total surrender to GOD’s calling for her life, she remains committed to improving the quality of life for the people of Ethiopia. Her noteworthy leadership ability was accompanied by being selected as one of the Mandela Washington fellows in 2015, awarded the Associations of Women in Business (AWIB’s) Women of Excellence award in 2016, and Blood: Water’s Leader of the Year award in 2020.
Hermella is a master’s degree graduate in Sustainable international development from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. She believes the water crisis can be ended through people working together, and she aspires to continue positively impacting civil society in Ethiopia and beyond.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
