LIBERIA: WASH Consortium Launches DFID GBP 7.5 Million Project
By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – The Liberia Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Consortium in partnership with the Liberian government and partners recently launched a 7.5 million British Pounds WASH Project.
Minister of State Without Portfolio, Commany Wesseh officially launched the Project, representing the Office of the Liberian President
Board of the Liberia WASH Consortium “Oxfam” Country Director, Mamudu Salifu making opening remarks at the Launch of the Project
View of some Participants at the Program
WASH Donors and Partners at the Program
The DFID Swift Programme “Sustainable WASH in Fragile ConTexts” with support from the United Kingdom Aid (UKaid) through the Department for International Development, targets six rural counties of Liberia with the aim of providing equitable and sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services.
The Project which targets two hundred forty six thousand one hundred (246,100) beneficiaries in Bong, Nimba, Lofa , Sinoe, Grand Bassa and rural Montserrado counties, and will also motivate the beneficiaries practice key sanitation and hygiene behaviors.
As part of the Project, a 3-day DFID WASH Results Programme Inception Workshop was held to educate implementers and partners acquaint themselves with terms of reference and contents of the Project.
The Inception Workshop amongst other things also looked at Liberia Theory of Change, procurement planning, Approaches to implementation, Review Country Risk Matrix and Invoicing Matrix and Cash flow forecasts, and Development of key value for money performance. The facilitators and participants also discussed MEAL Framework & including Field Monitoring, Outline of contractual obligation with DFID, Review of the Gantt chart and Planning documents, organization & county activity / implementation planning.
The program targets areas declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) to provide knowledge and understanding of good sanitation and hygiene practices and benefits, ensure population of targeted areas have functioning and sustainable new and rehabilitated water facilities which provide adequate and safe drinking water.
The DFID Project will also increase capacity of key stake holders to plan, deliver and monitor sustainable WASH facilities.
The program further seeks to ensure learning and research available for Liberia Program improvement taking into account WASH Sector Knowledge and Advocacy.
According to the contents of the Sustainable WASH in Fragile ConTexts Program, the Project will achieve its plan by reaching out to two hundred forty six thousand one hundred (246,100) through hygiene promotion activities.
It also seeks to ensuring that one hundred twenty nine thousand two hundred (129,200) persons have improved sanitation through Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in over 150 Communities, and trial of Community Health Clubs Approach in Liberia.
It will also ensure that one hundred thirty three thousand seven hundred fifty (133,750) persons have improved drinking water source, construct and rehabilitate three hundred fifty seven (357) new hand dug / drilled wells.
Also as part of the Project, twenty bore holes will be rehabilitated, and also the construction of one gravity fed water system and three boreholes solar power pump systems.
The program will take into consideration Water Quality Testing, Community Capacity for sustainability of infrastructure WASH Committees, pump mechanics, natural leaders and spare parts dealers.
Building the capacity of government, local partners and using AKVO Flow to monitor outputs among several WASH related issues are also key priorities of the Project.
At the close of the 3-day DFID WASH Results Programme Inception Workshop held at the Cape Hotel in Monrovia, the Project was officially launched bringing together Members of the Liberia WASH Consortium, partners, local and international organizations, other dignitaries from the public and private sectors, and the Office of the President of the Republic of Liberia, among others.
The Board of the Liberia WASH Consortium “Oxfam” though its Country Director, Mamudu Salifu promised to ensure the full implementation of the Project in the interest of the beneficiaries in particular and Liberia in general.
Also speaking, Assistant Health Minister for Preventive Services, Tolbert Nyenswah and Assistant Public Works Minister for Community Services, George Yarngo commended the Liberia WASH Consortium for the vital role it continues to play in the WASH sector of Liberia.
They described safe water and improved sanitation as key to a better health delivery system in any nation, and urged partners as well as beneficiaries to put in place measures that will sustain the Project after it has ended.
They also assured the partners of their respective Ministry’s commitment for the success of the Project.
Formally launching the Project, the Office of the President represented by the Minister of State Without Portfolio, Commany Wesseh challenged WASH Donors and Partners to design more new methods to ensure the speedy improvement of WASH conditions across the country.
The launch of the Project according to the Liberia WASH Consortium, is also part of its continuous support to the government of Liberia’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Strategic Sector Plan 2013-2017 to contribute towards the reduction of morbidity related to poor sanitation and hygiene in urban and peri-urban Monrovia.
The Liberia WASH Consortium (LWC) comprises of six international Organizations, “WaterAid, Action La Falm, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam, TearFund, and Population services International.
