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WASH-Net, in partnership with GOAL Sierra Leone and other key players in the WASH sector—including government officials, civil society organizations, and development partners—has successfully concluded a one-day Heads of State Landscape Analysis Workshop at the Njala Venue in Freetown.
The workshop’s goal was to identify major barriers to WASH access in Sierra Leone and develop actionable recommendations to be presented to the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (MoWRS). These recommendations will be a critical part of Sierra Leone’s journey toward joining the Heads of State Initiative, a global movement aimed at prioritizing WASH issues at the highest level of government. The initiative will guide the national WASH strategy and contribute to achieving universal access to clean water and sanitation.
The Heads of State Initiative for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), supported by Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), the Government of the Netherlands, IRC WASH, and UNICEF, encourages Presidents and Prime Ministers to prioritize WASH in their political agendas. Sierra Leone is preparing to join this global movement, with a focus on elevating WASH issues as a national priority and accelerating progress toward universal access.
During the workshop, Musa Ansumana Soko, Team Lead of WASH-Net, provided a comprehensive overview of the workshop’s objectives, context, structure, and expected outcomes. In his keynote address, Raymond S. Komba, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, on behalf of the Minister, highlighted the WASH advocacy journey in Sierra Leone from 2010 to the present. He acknowledged key successes and emphasized critical areas requiring high-level discussions. He noted that the workshop would equip stakeholders with the necessary skills to strengthen the WASH system in Sierra Leone.
Komba also spoke about the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership and its key objective of building and sustaining political will to eliminate inequalities in WASH. The initiative champions a multi-stakeholder approach to achieve universal access to WASH services and encourages stakeholders to strengthen system performance while attracting new investments. The overarching goal is to inspire and support national leadership in prioritizing WASH issues, mobilizing resources, and driving progress toward universal WASH access. This workshop marked a significant first step in advancing Sierra Leone’s WASH compact.
The workshop was divided into two segments, allowing stakeholders to focus on key thematic areas such as water supply, governance, sanitation, and hygiene. After extensive discussions, each group presented feedback based on their findings. During breakout sessions, participants were divided into three groups to engage in plenary discussions on important drivers in the WASH sector: Water Governance, Water Supply, and Sanitation. The aim was to assess the current WASH situation in Sierra Leone, identify barriers and challenges, and propose viable solutions, with strong recommendations for moving forward.
