The tippy tap is a ubiquitous device in many rural, developing communities.
Comprised of a suspended bottle or jug filled with water and a lever used to release small amount of water, the tippy tap can take many forms but the function is the same — to provide a convenient hand-washing station. And it serves that purpose quite well. The tippy tap can be created by children, sourced from local materials, and is inexpensive to produce. This and other similar hand-washing devices can be used to spark a conversation about hygiene, but they do not necessarily facilitate the crucial, long-term adoption of hand-washing as a habit.
The water, sanitation, and hygiene sector and the broader development community can and should do better. Now is the time for innovation on this so-called “hardware” side of hand-washing. Now is the time to move beyond the tippy tap. As such, on Global Handwashing Day I want to explore both the ways in which innovation is occurring and cast a vision for how this innovation can be spurred going forward.
About the author
Hanna Woodburn
Hanna Woodburn is the deputy secretariat director for the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing, where she works on strategic communications and advocacy initiatives. Hanna holds a M.A. in Communication, Culture, and Technology and an Honor's Certificate in International Business Diplomacy from Georgetown University. Prior to earning her Master's Degree, Hanna worked in public policy.
