Transforming Sierra Leone’s WASH Sector: A Milestone Policy Brief on the Heads of State Initiative for WASH Presented to the Minister of Water Resources​.

Freetown, Sierra Leone – March 28, 2025 – In a significant step towards enhancing the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Sierra Leone, WASHNet, in partnership with GOAL, presented a comprehensive policy brief to the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. This pivotal event took place during a high-level ministerial briefing with the Honorable Minister Sao-Kpayo Hannah Max-Kyne, marking an important milestone in the country’s WASH landscape.

The Heads of State Initiative for WASH is a global movement aimed at accelerating progress towards universal access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, particularly in countries facing significant challenges in these areas.

The initiative, supported by Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), the Government of the Netherlands, and UNICEF, encourages Heads of State to elevate WASH as a national priority and mobilize political will and resources to address key barriers. Sierra Leone is preparing to join this initiative as part of its broader commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: ensuring access to water and sanitation for all by 2030.

The policy brief, seeks to address several critical challenges facing the WASH sector. It offers actionable pathways aimed at improving the country’s WASH systems, with a special focus on four key areas:

1. Governance Weaknesses: Fragmented roles among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) leading to poor coordination and inefficiencies in service delivery.
2. Inadequate Investment: A lack of sufficient funding for both infrastructure development and maintenance of existing WASH systems, leading to high rates of non-functionality of water points and sanitation facilities.
3. Climate Vulnerability: The impact of climate change, including floods, droughts, and environmental degradation, exacerbates existing challenges in water supply and sanitation.
4. Limited Public Awareness: Low levels of hygiene awareness and inadequate community engagement result in poor sanitation practices and low levels of public participation in WASH management.

This briefing was a direct outcome of the WASH Landscape Analysis Workshop, which was held as part of the Heads of State Initiative on WASH. The initiative brought together diverse stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society organizations, and development partners, with support from Sanitation and Water for All (SWA). The workshop provided a platform for multi-stakeholder engagement aimed at driving progress in Sierra Leone’s WASH sector.

Musa Ansumana Soko, Team Lead of WASHNet, led the submission of the policy brief. In his remarks, he expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Water Resources for its continued commitment to WASH systems transformation. He also acknowledged the Ministry’s leadership in fostering a conducive environment for collaboration and partnerships in the sector.

Hon. Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Max-Kyne, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, responded positively to the policy brief. She reiterated her Ministry’s dedication to transforming Sierra Leone’s WASH systems and welcomed the proposed recommendations. The Minister emphasized the need for continued and deeper collaboration, highlighting her interest in engaging more closely with civil society organizations and development partners.

During the session, Satya, WASH and Climate Change Coordinator at GOAL, presented an overview of the WASH Systems for Health project, a flagship initiative funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). This project is being implemented by WASHNet and GOAL in Sierra Leone, with Self Help Africa leading the project in both Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The project aims to strengthen WASH systems to improve public health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable communities.

This event marks a crucial step in aligning Sierra Leone’s WASH policies and practices with the needs of its citizens, ensuring a collaborative approach to solving sectoral challenges. By strengthening partnerships between government, civil society, and development partners, Sierra Leone is moving closer to its goal of providing safe, reliable, and sustainable water and sanitation services to all its people.

Through this engagement, WASHNet and GOAL continue to play an essential role in pushing forward the WASH agenda, demonstrating how collective action and strong policy advocacy can bring about lasting change.

DOWNLOAD: Ministerial Briefing Note on the Heads of State Initiative for WASH

For media inquiries, contact:
Richard Nelson Caulker
Advocacy and Communications Officer, WASHNet
Email: richard[at]wash-net.org | Tel: +23273707899