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In a bid to enhance water sanitation and hygiene in Pujehun District, SEND Sierra Leone officially initiated a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project on Wednesday, 24th January 2024.
The project launch, titled “Strengthening of Civil Society Participation for Climate Change Adaptation,” garnered support from key stakeholders, including the Chairman of Pujehun District Council, representatives from the Ministries of Health, Water Resources and Sanitation, Social Welfare, Agriculture, and various Civil Society Organizations focused on climate change and WASH.
Titty S. Kamara, Acting Sector Head for Climate Change and Livelihood at SEND Sierra Leone explained that the WASH project aims to foster development in water and sanitation within Pujehun District while fortifying environmental sustainability. She emphasized the multi-stakeholder approach, targeting district-level engagement to identify climate-vulnerable communities. The three-year project will be executed across 25 communities in Kenema and Pujehun Districts, with a focus on 15 communities in Soro Gbema, Sowa, Yeakemoh Kpukumu Krim, Gallinas, and Kabondeh chiefdoms.
During the participatory session, 27 communities were identified based on criteria such as intervention need, climate vulnerability, accessibility, community commitment, and avoidance of duplication. The project aims to provide climate-resilient infrastructure, ensuring communities have access to safe drinking water and food, and addressing gender disparities.
Titty outlined SEND’s commitment to constructing water facilities, including solar boreholes, and empowering communities through financial access and capacity-building on climate change management. The organization aligns its goals with National Adaptation Plans, disseminating key priorities.
Chairman Foday Kandeh Rogers, representing the Pujehun District Council, commended SEND Sierra Leone for selecting Pujehun District for the WASH project. He officially launched the initiative, urging community ownership to ensure inclusivity.
Jonathan Sei, District WASH Engineer from the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, expressed optimism about the project’s success.
Notably, the project is funded by TERRATEC from Germany, through BMZ, to address climate change impacts on water and sanitation in Sierra Leone.
