The Government of Bangladesh and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) undertook the second phase of Water Supply and Sanitation Programme Support, entitled WSSPS-II, to introduce sustained hygiene practices and improved safe water supply and sanitation facilities in rural areas. The project phase, implemented over a six-year period, was formally completed in 2011. HYSAWA as an organization was set up to implement one of the two components of this project. The amount of government assistance for implementation of the project phase was BDT 306 million.
The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), under Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been a key partner of HYSAWA since its inception. In 2007, DANIDA played a pivotal role in establishing HYSAWA as a multi-donor fund in Bangladesh. It later became a major contributor through flagship programmes such as the Water Supply and Sanitation Programme Support (WSSPS-II) and the Support to the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (SWSSS), significantly strengthening the country’s WASH sector. Since 2015, DANIDA has also supported climate change adaptation initiatives in vulnerable regions of Bangladesh. More recently, from December 2018 to November 2022, it collaborated with SDC on a project in Cox’s Bazar targeting Rohingya refugees and host communities. Currently, DANIDA supports the ICAR project (July 2023–June 2028), which focuses on enhancing government capacity to deliver inclusive, climate-resilient WASH services in Cox’s Bazar.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), under Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), has been an important partner of HYSAWA in promoting decentralized WASH services in Bangladesh. In 2013, SDC supported a project on empowering local government institutions to manage hygiene, sanitation, and water supply services in hard-to-reach areas (2013–2017), contributing CHF 9.3 million, with a focus on coastal regions. Later, SDC, together with DANIDA, supported the “Climate Resilient WaSH Support for Rohingya Refugees and Vulnerable Local Communities in Cox’s Bazar District” project from December 2018 to November 2022. This initiative strengthened climate-resilient WASH services for Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities.
An agreement between HYSAWA and Australian High Commission was signed on 12 September 2017 at the Australian High Commission, Dhaka.
Julia Niblett, Honorable Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Mr. Md. Nurul Osman, Acting Managing Director of HYSAWA signed the agreement. The project “Assessment and Strengthen Community Disaster Preparedness on Water and Sanitation in Hatiya Island” will be implemented during 2017-18.
HYSAWA's partnership with AusAID commenced in 2010 following Australian Government’s decision to support a four-year project to implement hygiene, sanitation and water supply activities. Australian Aid, in short AusAID, is an Australian Government agency responsible for managing Australia's overseas aid program. The project was implemented in three south-western districts of Bangladesh highly vulnerable to water stress. The contribution made by AusAID towards the project’s implementation was AUD 10.7 million.
An agreement between HYSAWA and Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany was signed on 25 May 2017 at the German Embassy, Dhaka. Dr. Thomas Prinz, Honorable Ambassador of the German Embassy and Mr. Md. Nurul Osman, Acting Managing Director of HYSAWA signed the agreement. Mr. Andreas Hartmann, Head of Development Co-operation, Mr. Shaikh Mahmudul Ahsan, Advisor, Development Co-operation from German Embassy, Mr. Mohammad Habibullah , Finance Manager, HYSAWA were present in the signing ceremony. The project “Establishing Water and Sanitation facilities for people living in hard-to-reach region” will be implemented in Satkhira district in association with the Local Government Institutions.
Action against Hunger or Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is a non-governmental organization fighting hunger in the world for nearly 40 years. Structured on an international network, the organization provides a coordinated response in nearly 50 countries. ACF’s fields of expertise include water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and health, food security and resources of existence, mental health and childcare practices, advocacy, risk and disaster management, and research. HYSAWA has partnered with the organization to provide water and sanitation services to the host community of Ukhiya upazila, Cox’s Bazar.
HYSAWA has come to an agreement with Oxford University to receive a REACH Funding Grant to fund the research project entitled “SafePani model – Safe Drinking Water Pilot in Khulna Division” in Bangladesh. (2021-24)
The Uptime Catalyst Facility (UCF), in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, is supporting HYSAWA in implementing the “Results-Based Water Service Improvement and Data Monitoring Project” in Khulna District from January 2025 to December 2030, with a total value of BDT 372.76 million. The project applies a results-based financing approach to improve the reliability, safety, and sustainability of rural water services. It focuses on ensuring functional and safe water points through regular monitoring, timely maintenance, and water quality testing. The initiative also strengthens data-driven monitoring systems, enhances transparency, and builds institutional capacity, contributing to improved access to safe and reliable drinking water for rural communities and public institutions.
Magenta Insight Ltd, in collaboration with HYSAWA, is implementing the “National Tubewell Monitoring Programme using Sensor Technology” in Bangladesh in two phases: Phase 1 (July 2023–September 2024) and Phase 2 (October 2024–June 2026). The programme introduces sensor-based monitoring of rural tubewells, initially piloted in Khulna Division and later expanded nationwide. By installing temperature sensors, it enables real-time tracking of water usage and functionality. The initiative strengthens data-driven decision-making, enhances water quality monitoring, and supports climate-resilient water management, contributing to scalable, results-based water service models and improved reliability of rural drinking water systems.