Freetown: Confronting persistent gaps in water delivery and sanitation infrastructure, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has conducted a donor coordination meeting, demanding a paradigm shift from fragmented efforts toward a unified, sustainable sector-wide strategy. Convened under the auspices of the Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project (WASH), the gathering saw Minister Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy issue a firm call for strengthened alignment among international partners to improve service delivery nationwide radically.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Dr. Macarthy articulated the government’s vision under President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for a harmonized WASH sector, emphasizing coherence in execution. Echoing this sentiment, Xavier Chauvot de Beauchene, leading the World Bank support mission, underscored the critical need for structured collaboration, robust data-sharing mechanisms, and innovative investment models designed to secure enduring
impact.
Project Coordinator Mustapha Gibril outlined the initiative’s core components, framing discussions that drew contributions from a wide array of implementing partners. The strategic deliberations marked the fourth day of the Bank’s inaugural implementation support mission visit.
Development partners, including GOAL Sierra Leone, World Vision, UNICEF, WASHNET, CRS, AfDB, WHO, JICA, and Concern Worldwide detailed ongoing interventions spanning water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Initiatives range from constructing thousands of climate-resilient water points to deploying cutting-edge solutions such as prepaid water schemes, mobile money integration, and community-led governance models.
With over 46 partner organizations, regulatory bodies, and implementing agencies in attendance, the discourse centered on sustainability. Key priorities included capacity building, preventive maintenance, and fostering community ownership. Participants also flagged persistent challenges, including technical water qual
ity issues, infrastructure deficits in rapidly expanding urban zones, and the imperative for improved policy and regulatory frameworks.
Discussions yielded concrete agreements to bolster coordination. Stakeholders reached consensus on instituting quarterly sector meetings, establishing a shared information platform, and ensuring tighter alignment of all interventions with national development priorities. Emphasis was placed on leveraging Public-Private Partnerships, advancing gender-sensitive sanitation solutions, and implementing structured management systems for major infrastructure assets like Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants.
Concluding the proceedings, Minister Macarthy hailed the engagement as both timely and insightful, urging continuous information sharing and sustained stakeholder collaboration as the sector transitions toward a more integrated, efficient, and resilient WASH service delivery model.