Environmental governance is often described as complex. But sitting on the panel at the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) Collaborating Learning and Adapting Conference, it became clear that the challenge is not complexity alone. It is coherence. Too often, we treat water, forests, biodiversity, and communities as separate issues, when in reality they are deeply connected…
As Sierra Leone explores new approaches to financing water infrastructure, WASHNet shares key reflections from a national PPP workshop and what it means for the future of service delivery.
As Sierra Leone undertakes the long-awaited review of its 1991 Constitution, a critical question stands before us: should access to safe water and adequate sanitation be recognized as fundamental human rights? WASHNet Sierra Leone believes the answer is clear. Water and sanitation are not services of convenience. They are essential to life, dignity, public health, gender equality, and national development. In its formal submission to the Constitutional Review Committee, WASHNet calls for the explicit constitutional recognition of these rights, ensuring that every Sierra Leonean, regardless of location or income, is legally guaranteed access to safe water and sanitation. This moment offers a rare opportunity to strengthen our legal foundation and secure a healthier, more equitable future for generations to come.
The WASH Systems Learning Forum in Abuja brought together partners from Sierra Leone and Nigeria for an honest reflection on what it takes to build lasting water, sanitation, and hygiene systems. Representing Sierra Leone, WASHNet joined the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, GOAL, and BudgIT Sierra Leone to exchange lessons with a diverse group of Nigerian partners, UNICEF, IRC, and the University of Bristol.
The discussions went beyond infrastructure and focused on the systems that keep services functioning: stronger MEAL processes, better subnational planning, clearer sector coordination, and smarter ways of working in fragile settings. Sierra Leone’s experiences with budget tracking and community accountability gained strong attention, while Nigeria’s insights from security-compromised states offered valuable lessons for managing services under pressure.
As the Strengthening WASH Systems for Health project enters its next phase, the momentum from Abuja gives partners on both sides renewed direction. The shared learning will help deepen collaboration, guide district-level planning, and strengthen the policies and institutions needed to deliver sustainable WASH services for every community.
Sierra Leone has officially launched the Global WASH Programme Phase II in Freetown, bringing together government leaders, development partners, district authorities, and civil society to strengthen governance for reliable water and sanitation services. The new phase focuses on long-term systems building, accountability, gender inclusion, and improved service delivery, marking a renewed commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The recent proposal to re-demarcate the Western Area Peninsula National Park (WAPNP) is more than a technical adjustment of boundaries. It is a decision that risks dismantling the very foundation of Sierra Leone’s water security, environmental sustainability, and public health. As WASHNet, we stand firmly with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (MoWRS) and…
During a recent project monitoring visit to Bombali District, a high-level meeting hosted by the District Council and chaired by Council Chairman Dr. Mohamed Babah Sesay revealed stark realities about the fragile state of local service delivery; particularly in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The meeting, which brought together representatives from the District Health Management…
In a world increasingly defined by floods, droughts, pandemics, and fragility, water is no longer just a development issue; it’s a survival issue. For countries like Sierra Leone and many others across the Global South, access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is the frontline of resilience. Yet global efforts continue to treat water as…
As the global community faces rising climate pressures, persistent water scarcity, and systemic development challenges, one thing is increasingly clear: isolated responses are no longer enough. The interconnected nature of these crises demands an equally interconnected response; one that bridges ministries, sectors, and mandates. In the lead-up to the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM) scheduled…
For far too long, Sierra Leone’s efforts to improve sanitation have faced an avoidable hurdle; one that has nothing to do with technical capacity or government policy, but rather with unresolved personal differences at the highest levels of our institutions. Immediately after the 2023 elections in Sierra Leone, a Presidential order issued a clear and…