Analysis of stakeholders in the sanitation sector on the example of Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Sanitation interventions in Ethiopia involve many stakeholders, including different local, regional and federal government offices, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, private sector companies, religious, political and kebele leaders as well as communities. Not only do the relationships in this large network of actors affect the activities of each stakeholder in their functions, but they also influence their interventions as a whole. Interviews with various representatives of stakeholders involved in the sanitation sector in Arba Minch were conducted in order to analyze their roles, share of responsibilities, problems and a potential for better cooperation. In particular, involvement of the private sector in sanitation interventions has been neglected. The planned establishment of a multi-stakeholders regional forum that would gather various actors and enable them to share experience, ideas and cooperate on a regional scale seems to be a good way to start.