On Thursday, November 28th, 2024, WASHNET organised a workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Sanitation and Water for All, and GOAL. The landscape analysis workshop, held at the Njala Venue—Beach Road Freetown, on the Heads of States Initiative on WASH —revolved around the theme “Translating Commitments into Actions: Scaling Leadership for Sustainable WASH Solutions.” It provided a platform for stakeholders on WASH to come together and address the persistent challenges surrounding water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Sierra Leone.
The formal proceedings commenced with a welcoming address by the keynote speaker Mr. Raymond Komba-Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, whose message laid the foundation for the landscape analysis workshop's objectives. In his address, he delved into the history of WASHNET, highlighting its journey since its establishment in 2010. He emphasized that they have been building partnerships over the years, and the network’s collaborations gained momentum after years of persistent efforts. He stated the importance of collective action and leadership in addressing WASH issues. His address also provided an overview of the workshop’s goals, offering a detailed understanding of the objectives and expectations. He stressed the urgency of scaling leadership and fostering sustainable solutions to tackle WASH challenges, urging participants to handle the discussions with a sense of responsibility and determination.
Attending organisations were divided into three groups to delve deeper into specific aspects of the WASH sector. Each group was tasked with assessing and examining critical dimensions of WASH in Sierra Leone through our respective perspectives, identifying key barriers or challenges that hinder progress and proposing solution to address the barriers
Group 1: Water Supply
Group 2: Sanitation and Hygiene
Group 3: Governance
Group 1: examined the state of water supply, discussing issues such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to safe drinking water, and the impact of climate change on water resources. Group 2: explored sanitation and hygiene challenges, including open defecation, lack of sanitation facilities in rural areas, and cultural barriers to adopting improved hygiene practices. Group 3: focused on governance, addressing issues like weak policy implementation, lack of accountability, and insufficient coordination among stakeholders.
The group presentations provided a comprehensive assessment of the WASH sector in Sierra Leone, highlighting the barriers and challenges in each area and proposing actionable solutions. The collaborative atmosphere encouraged other participants to contribute additional insights and recommendations, enriching the discussions further. Following the initial group presentations, the landscape analysis moved into a second segment designed to build on the foundation laid in the first phase of the group. This segment aimed to develop actionable recommendations to address the barriers identified earlier. Groups were tasked with two critical objectives:
Objective 1. Develop actionable recommendations: group were instructed to identify specific, practical actions that could be implemented to overcome the challenges discussed in the first segment. Objective 2. Recommend a framework for sustainable collaboration: group were asked to propose a framework to enhance coordination among government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners, ensuring a unified approach to WASH solutions.
The group presentations were detailed and well-articulated, showcasing the collective efforts, outlined their proposed actions, stakeholder roles, and pathways to achieve the desired outcomes, demonstrating a clear understanding of the complexities involved in addressing WASH.
In summarising the day’s proceedings in emphasizing the importance of sustained commitment to WASH solutions. In conclusion, the landscape analysis provides a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences, identify challenges, and propose practical solutions to advance the WASH agenda in Sierra Leone.
During the landscape analysis, I learned about the current state of WASH in Sierra Leone and their diverse existing policies and laws. Some of these policies are old and require amendments. In relation to my organizational focus, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is a fundamental human right for women and girls and will continue to advocate and support WASH accessibility, and availability. Women and Girls including persons with disabilities experience double of every challenges relating to WASH and WASH policies should support and uphold the concepts of disability and gender.