Freetown:Government officials, development partners, and civil society organizations have reiterated their commitment to enhancing access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Sierra Leone, focusing on underserved communities.

According to Sierra Leone News Agency, this renewed commitment was announced during the Third Quarter 2026 WASH Sector Coordination Meeting held at Family Kingdom, Aberdeen, Freetown, on November 5. Participants discussed the progress of implementation, identified operational challenges, and explored strategies for better coordination, infrastructure management, and sustained access to essential WASH services.

Festus Kallay, Director General of the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, emphasized the importance of access to safe water and adequate sanitation as crucial for human dignity, public health, education, and national development. He called for enhanced institutional coordination and equitable service delivery to ensure sustainable access for communities.

Dr. David Augustine Abu, Deputy Director of NGO Affairs at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, urged development partners to align their efforts with the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024-2030 to avoid project duplication and strengthen collaboration with local councils and communities.

Representatives from organizations such as GOAL Sierra Leone, the Embassy of Iceland, and World Hope International discussed ongoing initiatives, including borehole construction, water facility rehabilitation, community sanitation programs, and hygiene promotion.

Elijah Kihara Maina from World Hope International presented findings from a monitoring exercise showing that 96% of households had reliable water access, with 99% having functional Water User Committees and 80% having savings for infrastructure maintenance.

Despite progress, challenges such as inadequate funding, poor infrastructure maintenance, limited access to remote communities, and water quality concerns persist. Participants called for increased investment, stronger partnerships, improved monitoring, and greater community involvement to ensure the long-term functionality of WASH facilities.

The meeting reaffirmed the stakeholders' dedication to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6, aiming for universal clean water and sanitation access, while improving public health and living conditions across Sierra Leone.