HOW SIERRA LEONE CAN SEIZE THE MOMENT AT 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT (FfD4) TO ACCELERATE WASH FOR HEALTH IN SIERRA LEONE?

As world leaders, finance ministers, and sector specialists prepare for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the global community finds itself at a decisive moment. The upcoming FfD4, immediately preceding the Sanitation and Water For All (SWA) Sector Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid will not be just another conference. It is an urgent opportunity to shift the dial on how countries like Sierra Leone fund the basic human rights to safe water and sanitation, even as the world faces deepening financial uncertainty.

This year, the stakes are especially high. For the first time since joining the Heads of State Initiative for WASH, Sierra Leone is entering these global discussions with the platform, the partners, and the policy framework to chart a new course. The decisions made at FfD4 will reverberate beyond New York and Madrid, right into the homes, health care facilities, and schools. The window for action is open, but only if government, development partners, and sector leaders respond with ambition and resolve.

THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL WASH FINANCING CONTEXT: A PERSISTENT GAP.

Before zooming in on Sierra Leone, it is important to grasp the broader landscape. Globally, progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6, to ensure water and sanitation for all remains off-track. According to the latest UN-Water and WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) reports, billions of people worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services. Achieving universal coverage by 2030 demands a quantum leap in investments.

Current estimates put the global financing needs for WASH at between $114 billion and $229 billion per year—far above the actual flows. A significant portion of this gap is seen in low- and middle-income countries, where limited tax revenue, competing demands, and economic shocks have led to chronic under-investment. The COVID-19 pandemic further strained public budgets, while climate change is exposing and deepening the vulnerability of water and sanitation systems everywhere.

Sub-Saharan Africa, which includes Sierra Leone, faces some of the most daunting challenges. Regional studies by the African Development Bank and the World Bank reveal that while countries have made commendable progress in extending basic water supply, sanitation coverage, particularly in rural areas, lags behind. Annual financing for WASH in the region hovers around $7.6 billion; less than half of what is needed to even maintain current levels, let alone achieve universal access. Too often, external donors fund the lion’s share of investments, while government allocations remain low and often unpredictable.

Urban areas see the bulk of investment, but even there, poor cost recovery and aging infrastructure hamper progress. In rural areas, systems are frequently under-resourced and poorly maintained, with a high rate of breakdowns. Climate events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves, are increasing the cost and complexity of service provision, yet financing models have not adapted fast enough to match the growing risks.

SIERRA LEONE’S WASH SECTOR: PROGRESS, PAIN POINTS, AND POSSIBILITIES

In Sierra Leone, water and sanitation financing reflects many of these global and regional trends, yet with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities.

Recent sector data show that access to safely managed drinking water is available to just 10.6% of rural Sierra Leoneans. Only 14% have access to safely managed sanitation. While improvements have been seen in urban areas—thanks in part to projects like the African Development Bank-funded Freetown Revamping Project—the disparities between cities and rural communities remain stubbornly wide.

The financing architecture for WASH in Sierra Leone is still dominated by external grants and loans. According to the 2022 National WASH Accounts, more than 70% of sector financing comes from donors, with government contributions covering a minority share. Meanwhile, public funding for WASH often falls short when compared to sectors like roads, energy, or health, despite the fact that water and sanitation are the backbone of public health, productivity, and resilience.

This chronic under-investment has concrete consequences. About 1 in 4 handpumps nationwide is non-functional, leaving entire communities without reliable water access. Aging urban water infrastructure, particularly in Freetown, is plagued by high rates of leakage and water loss, as over 40% of treated water is lost before reaching the tap. Sanitation coverage has not kept pace with urbanization, leading to health risks, lost productivity, and avoidable deaths, especially among children.

Despite these hurdles, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Sierra Leone’s government has taken important steps in recent years:

• Sector leadership: By joining the Heads of State Initiative for WASH and actively engaging in the Sanitation and Water For All partnership, Sierra Leone is signaling its intent to move beyond piecemeal approaches toward a truly transformational agenda capable of supporting the sector.
• Strengthened policy frameworks: The National WASH Policy and Strategic Plan, as well as ongoing Strategy of the Ministry of Water Resources offers a clear vision for achieving universal access, with a focus on equity, resilience, and sustainability.
• Innovative finance pilots: The Blue Peace Initiative in Freetown and new microcredit schemes for household sanitation show promise in leveraging new sources of capital.
• Improved coordination: The establishment of national and district-wide coordination arrangement and sector-wide approaches has improved coordination among ministries, development partners, and local/international non-governmental organizations.

THE FFD4 OPPORTUNITY: REFOCUSING IN A TURBULENT FINANCIAL ERA

This year’s FfD4 is taking place at a time of global financial stress. Inflation, debt, and economic instability have constrained both donor and domestic budgets. Yet it is precisely in these conditions that innovative financing and political commitment matter most.

For Sierra Leone, FfD4 represents a pivotal chance to:

Recommit to domestic resource mobilization: While external partners remain vital, the heart of sustainable progress lies in reliable domestic financing. This means ring-fencing WASH budget lines, improving tax collection, and ensuring that funds are protected from diversion to less urgent priorities.

Leverage performance-based financing: International evidence, including from other African countries, demonstrates that shifting from input-based grants to performance-based contracts can drive both efficiency and equity. Financing should be tied to clear targets—such as increased functionality of rural water points, or reductions in non-revenue water in urban systems.

Tap new sources of funding: Beyond public budgets and donor grants, Sierra Leone can expand the use of microfinance for household and community investments, attract private sector participation in urban service delivery, and explore climate finance opportunities to make WASH systems more resilient.

Institutionalize financial tracking and transparency: Sector-wide financial tracking systems, as piloted in recent years, must be scaled up and embedded in government routines. Regular publication of WASH budgets and expenditure reports will help build trust, enable course correction, and attract additional investment.

Prioritize the most vulnerable: Financing strategies should not lose sight of the poorest and most marginalized communities. This means targeted subsidies, support for rural water supply, and inclusive sanitation solutions that meet the needs of women, children, and persons with disabilities.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE SWA SECTOR MINISTERS’ MEETING: LINKING GLOBAL DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL ACTION.

Immediately after FfD4, ministers from across the world will gather in Madrid for the SWA Sector Ministers’ Meeting—hosted by the government of Spain. This gathering will focus on solving complex regional and global WASH and climate challenges. For Sierra Leone, it will be the first time attending as a member of the Heads of State Initiative for WASH; a signal that the country is stepping up as a leader, not just a recipient, in global WASH efforts.

The link between the FfD4 and the SWA Ministers’ Meeting is critical. Commitments made in New York must be followed by action in Madrid and back home in Sierra Leone. This means not just promises on paper, but budget allocations, legislative reforms, and real improvements on the ground.

RECOMMENDATIONS: DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

To realize the vision of water and sanitation for all, Sierra Leone’s government and partners should act decisively in the following areas:

Ring-fence and increase public funding for WASH: Advocate for clear, protected budget lines for rural and urban WASH in the national budget—ideally set within a medium-term expenditure framework. This will reduce the sector’s vulnerability to external shocks and ensure continuity of services.

Expand access to microfinance for households and small providers.: Promote and scale up microcredit and savings schemes that help families install household water connections, latrines, or handwashing stations. Such initiatives can crowd in local investment, empower communities, and fill critical financing gaps.

Strengthen partnerships with local authorities and civil society: Local governments and community-based organizations are often best placed to identify needs, mobilize resources, and monitor delivery. Support for their capacity and autonomy is essential for sustainable progress.

Build resilience through climate-smart investments: Design and finance WASH systems that can withstand floods, droughts, and other climate risks. Tap into climate adaptation funds, and ensure that new infrastructure is both robust and environmentally sustainable.

Enhance data, accountability, and learning: Use the latest digital tools and monitoring frameworks to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and share lessons across districts and regions. Transparent reporting should be standard practice, not the exception.

A CALL TO ACTION: TIME TO ACT BOLDLY

The challenges facing Sierra Leone’s WASH sector are significant, but they are not insurmountable. The upcoming FfD4 conference is more than a talking shop, it is a vital chance to turn intent into impact. As development partners, government leaders, and sector professionals gather to debate the future of financing, let us remember that every budget line, every policy reform, and every partnership forged has the power to transform lives.

The time to act is now. Sierra Leone has the plans, the partners, and the political will. What is needed is the sustained commitment to invest, smartly, equitably, and boldly in the water and sanitation systems that underpin our health, our economy, and our dignity. Let us seize this moment to build a future where no Sierra Leonean is left behind.

“Bringing safe water and sanitation to every corner of Sierra Leone is not just about infrastructure, it’s about building WASH systems, protecting health, and unlocking opportunity for generations. The solutions exist; what we need now is the will to invest and the resolve to deliver for our people.” Musa Ansumana Soko, Team Lead at WASHNet.