LIBERIA: WaterAid Lib/SL has new acting Team Leader
By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – The British based International Charity, WaterAid has for the first time appointed a Liberian to head its Programme in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Mr. Chuchu Selma, new Acting Team Leader for WaterAid in Liberia and Sierra Leone
Chuchu Selma who served as Programme Manager for three and half years was appointed, replacing Appollos Nwafor who has taken up a new assignment in Darkar, Senegal.
As the new Acting Team Leader, Mr. Selma disclosed that he will vigorously work with National Government and partners ensuring that the goals for water, sanitation and hygiene are met in Liberia.
He said the aims and objectives of the British Based International Charity will be at the core of his Administration as new Head of the Programme in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
He revealed that as the new Acting Team Leader for WaterAid Liberia/Sierra Leone, his focus will be on service delivery and the expansion of services of the Charity beyond areas WaterAid is currently operating .
The new Acting Team Leader said as part of his focus, he will work with communities ensuring that marginalized people and communities have access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene.
Mr. Selma noted that under the service delivery policy of the entity, his organization will continue to construct latrine facilities in communities that are in dire need.
He said the Charity will also continue to provide safe drinking water for communities through the construction of hand pumps and the rehabilitation of pumps that are not functional.
As part of the Organization’s three areas of focus, the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) will continue to be high on the agenda in Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Selma added.
According to him, the ideology behind the CLTS approach in communities is intended to sure the beauty of improved sanitation to residents, bringing about self help projects.
Under the CLTS approach, Mr. Selma further lamented that WaterAid is working with communities and schools to encourage them adapt a behavior change as it relates to safe hygiene practices.
Mr. Selma said the methodology is now gaining grounds in both Liberia and Sierra Leone as communities in the two countries have shown deep appreciation for CLTS.
The WaterAid Liberia/Sierra Leone new Acting Team Leader emphasized the need for a continuation of interactions with grass roots organizations to continue robust engagements in the interest of improved WASH services.
“In our advocacy work, we will ensure that communities know their rights in line with the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services in both Liberia and Sierra Leone” Mr. Selma stressed.
In an exclusive interview with WASH Reporters in Monrovia, Mr. Selma disclosed that some of the challenges in the WASH sector include the absence of structures and low capacity of government employees across the country.
He said this has been some of the crucial hiccups in the WASH sectors of both Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Mr. Selma noted that despite all of these challenges, his entity will work closely with governments in these two countries to put in place programs that will buttress efforts by authorities in the two countries to bring about improvement in the sector.
WaterAid supported-WASH Projects also target 60,000 people with access to sustainable and improved sanitation facilities within the period of 3 years.
The projects also focus on the construction and rehabilitating of water and sanitation infrastructures including boreholes, hand dug wells institutional latrines and implementing Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS).
Chuchu Selma is expected to serve the position as Acting Team Leader for WaterAid in Liberia and Sierra Leone until the 28th of February 2015.
