Behind every successful water project is a system—a network of people, tools, and decisions that keep clean water flowing and communities thriving. At Water for Good, Berhanu Mekuria plays a central role in making those systems work. Based out of our Addis Ababa headquarters in Ethiopia, Berhanu serves as Vice President of Program Quality and Sustainability, leading the charge to ensure our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs are effective, resilient, and built for long-term impact.
With a background in hydraulic and environmental engineering—and a deep personal connection to the water challenges many of our partner communities face—Berhanu brings both technical expertise and lived insight to his leadership. We recently connected with him to learn more about his journey, his passion for this work, and how thoughtful program design helps deliver lasting change.
Q&A with Berhanu Mekuria
How long have you been at Water for Good?
I joined Water for Good in January 2019, so I’ve been with the organization for almost six and a half years.
What made you originally want to join the WASH sector?
I grew up in a community where the people had water challenges and sanitation problems, and I developed the interest of being in the water sector. I hold a BSc in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering and a Master’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering. I went to university with one intention—I wanted to work in the WASH sector and support the provision of sustainable safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services to communities where they are most needed.
What does your role as VP of Program Quality and Sustainability encompass?
My role is to provide technical and strategic leadership to our team to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of Water for Good’s programs for the long-term impact we’re working toward. I am the team lead of a cross-functional team spanning Engineering, Monitoring and Evaluation, Community Health, and Sustainability. I oversee program quality, guide our Vision of a Healthy Village strategy, support our data systems and service delivery models, and foster continuous improvement. I also collaborate with senior leaders and external partners to ensure our programs are sustainable, contextually appropriate, and aligned with best practices in the sector.
How would you explain Vision of a Healthy Village (VHV) to someone who has never heard of it?
Vision of a Healthy Village (VHV) is a holistic approach developed by Water for Good to transform communities and promote long-term health and well-being. It focuses on providing sustainable access to safe and reliable water, improving sanitation and hygiene, and fostering lasting behavior change within the community.
Why is VHV unique?
VHV is unique because it takes a grassroots approach—staff go house-to-house, village-to-village, and school-to-school to ensure every person is reached, known, and loved. It’s holistic, addressing not only water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), but also promoting lasting behavior change. The health impact of the program is measured at both the baseline and endline, and follow-up assessments are conducted two years later to evaluate long-term sustainability.
How do you decide the most appropriate water structure to use in a given area?
Water for Good follows established guidelines, standards, and processes to determine the most appropriate water solution for each community, school, and healthcare facility. Key factors include:
- Availability and reliability of local water resources
- Accessibility of the site
- Feasibility of construction
- Water quality and safety
- Community water demand
- Topography and geography of the area
- Community preferences
- Cost-effectiveness
- Local capacity for operation and maintenance
This thorough assessment ensures that the selected solution is affordable, sustainable, and well-suited to the community’s needs.
What are the different water structures available for the communities we serve?
We construct a variety of water solutions based on the needs of each area. These include:
- Hand-dug wells with hand pumps
- Boreholes with hand pumps
- Protected spring caps (on-spot springs)
- Gravity-fed piped spring systems
- Motorized borehole or spring piped systems powered by solar energy or the electrical grid
Piped systems (gravity or motorized) are the preferred option by communities due to their convenience and reliability. Whenever feasible, we prioritize them.
How do we maintain these water structures to ensure safe water flows for years to come?
We’ve developed sustainability strategies tailored to each country where we work, because context is key. Our core approach focuses on strengthening the enabling environment for water and sanitation sustainability at the district level. This includes:
- Establishing or strengthening multi-community service provider groups
- Setting up tariff structures and payment mechanisms
- Developing supply chains for quality spare parts
- Equipping community-based water committees to handle maintenance and water point care
Do you have a favorite memory since joining Water for Good?
Yes—one of my favorite memories is completing the construction of several multi-village piped water systems and witnessing firsthand how they’re transforming lives. Visiting the field, learning from our teams, and seeing the impact up close always inspires me.
What excites you most about what you do?
What excites me most is the opportunity to be part of something deeply meaningful—bringing lasting change to communities through safe, reliable water. Water is more than a basic need—it’s a foundation for health, dignity, and opportunity. I’m especially inspired by our holistic approach. It’s not just about building infrastructure. It’s about building resilience.
What is one thing you’re looking forward to seeing Water for Good do in the next 3–5 years?
I’m looking forward to seeing us expand our impact—reaching more communities with sustainable WASH access and deepening our Vision of a Healthy Village approach. I’m hopeful we’ll grow in quality, efficiency, and sustainability, with stronger partnerships, empowered local leaders, and thriving communities where no one is left behind.
