In December 2022, Oxfam Consults undertook a consultancy for the East Africa and Yemen Region (EAY) of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).The aim of the consultancy was to help NRC develop their market-based approaches (MBA) to their water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) work in EAY, so that country offices can incorporate MBA into their strategies and programmes.

Oxfam Consults produced an initial scoping assessment of NRC’s current MBA activities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen, to lay a foundation for further support at a future date. Opportunities, challenges and technical capacities were reviewed. Several common types of WASH programming were identified, including: commodity transfers, self-supply, construction and rehabilitation, service chains, and market support. The final report to NRC EAY was submitted in March 2022.