Sierra Leone Launches GWP Phase II: A New Push for Stronger WASH Governance

Freetown played host to an important moment for Sierra Leone’s water and sanitation sector on 11 November 2025, as government officials, development partners, civil society, and district actors gathered at the Freetown City Council Hall for the official launch of the Global WASH Programme (GWP) Phase II. The project, funded by BMZ and implemented by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) in partnership with WASHNet and MoPADA, aims to strengthen governance systems for water, sanitation, and hygiene from the community level all the way to national institutions.

The launch brought together stakeholders from the project’s implementing district—Bonthe—alongside duty-bearers from central government including the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Ministry of Health, and the Environment Protection Agency. District WASH Engineers, Development and Planning Officers, local councils, NGO partners and civil society organizations were also in attendance, reflecting a broad coalition committed to moving the WASH sector forward.

Standing in for the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Allieu Bakarr-Conteh, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted that while Sierra Leone has made meaningful strides in improving water and sanitation access, many communities, especially in rural and fragile districts like Bonthe, continue to struggle with limited safe water access and high levels of open defecation. These gaps affect public health, school attendance, and economic productivity, with women and girls facing the greatest burden.

The new project, “Strengthening Governance for WASH Systems Delivery to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal #6,” takes a systems approach rather than focusing solely on infrastructure. It seeks to address governance weaknesses, clarify institutional roles, improve financial planning, and strengthen accountability so that community-level progress connects meaningfully with national reforms.

WASHNet Recognizes WASAP and Foundations Laid in Phase I

During his remarks, the WASHNet Team Lead, Musa Ansumana Soko, extended sincere appreciation to the Water Supply and Sanitation Promotion Project (WASAP) team for their leadership during Phase I of the Global WASH Programme. He emphasised that WASAP’s strong role in delivering hardware solutions and improving infrastructure helped set the foundation for Phase II’s shift toward governance strengthening, people-centred engagement, and long-term sustainability.

Musa Ansumana Soko added:

“This new phase speaks to what many of us have been working toward for years—stronger systems, clearer roles, and genuine accountability. The progress we saw in Phase I proves that when communities, district authorities, and national actors work together, real change is possible. Our task now is to deepen that cooperation and ensure that citizens have both the platform and the power to influence the services they rely on every day. WASHNet is honoured to help drive that shift at the national level.”

A Multi-Partner Model Driving Long-Term Change

The Permanent Secretary underscored that the strength of GWP II lies in its multi-level collaboration model. WHH serves as the lead implementing agency, building on long-term investments in Bonthe District. MoPADA continues its district-level leadership, especially around operationalizing the Bonthe District WASH Master Plan developed in Phase I. WASHNet, joining in Phase II, will lead on national advocacy, accountability mechanisms, and strengthening the link between communities and national policy.

WHH Country Director, Mr. Emmanuel Octave Bananeza, reinforced this commitment during his statement:

“Phase II gives us a real chance to move from isolated improvements to lasting change. What we are building here is a system that works for the long term, one that supports communities, local government, and national institutions to deliver reliable water and sanitation services. Our partners have shown what collaboration can achieve, and WHH remains committed to walking with Sierra Leone as it strengthens its WASH governance and fulfils its responsibility to every household and community.”

The event also included a context-setting presentation from WHH, an overview of the Community Level Operations and Maintenance (CLOM) Strategy by the Ministry’s Performance Tracking Unit, and discussions around sustainability, local capacity, and gender inclusion.

Building Systems That Last

A strong emphasis of the project is on long-term function rather than short-term fixes. This includes training artisans, expanding Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), improving district coordination, and creating an environment where communities can maintain water and sanitation facilities independently. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) remains central, ensuring women, youth, and persons with disabilities have a meaningful role in shaping WASH services.

In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building a stronger enabling environment for WASH service delivery—strengthening policies, supporting district councils, improving coordination, and increasing domestic financing for the sector.

With implementation running from July 2025 to October 2028, partners expressed confidence that the Global WASH Programme Phase II will deepen the gains achieved in the first phase and move Sierra Leone closer to a more water-secure, equitable future.

As the event concluded, one message resonated clearly across the room: stronger WASH systems are built through cooperation, accountability, and shared responsibility. With renewed commitment at every level, Sierra Leone is taking another meaningful step toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 and ensuring safe, reliable, and sustainable water and sanitation services for all.