Six (6) Critical Questions for the Sanitation Mandate Transfer.

The recent transfer of Sierra Leone’s sanitation mandate from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is a bold policy shift that reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening WASH governance. However, such a fundamental change in institutional responsibility must be guided by deliberate planning, inclusive engagement, and a clear operational roadmap. As stakeholders across government, civil society, and development partners observe this transition, it is vital to ask: Are we asking the right questions?

1. Was the transition built on evidence and readiness?

Before any mandate transfer, it is important to assess the readiness of the receiving institution. Was a functional review conducted to determine if the Ministry of Water Resources had the technical capacity, institutional systems, and human resources to lead sanitation governance? Were existing legal frameworks and policies reviewed and updated to reflect the change?

2. Were stakeholders adequately consulted?

Transitions of this magnitude require more than an executive decision — they demand dialogue. Were key actors, such as the Ministry of Health, local councils, community-based organizations, and sanitation service providers consulted? Was there a platform for development partners and CSOs to align their programming with the new institutional arrangement?

3. Is there a roadmap for operationalizing the new mandate?

A clear transition plan is essential to prevent service disruptions and institutional confusion. Does a roadmap exist outlining timelines, roles, coordination mechanisms, and capacity-building needs? Has it been communicated to stakeholders at both national and sub-national levels?

4. How are financial and human resources being realigned?

Sanitation service delivery requires sustained investment. Have budget lines, donor commitments, and sanitation-specific expenditures been reallocated to the Ministry of Water Resources? Are frontline workers and district-level officers being trained or reassigned in line with the new institutional framework?

5. What does success look like?

Most importantly, what indicators are being used to measure the effectiveness of this transition? Are there mechanisms for monitoring progress, learning, and accountability? Will communities and local governments see an improvement in sanitation outcomes, or will the shift risk becoming a bureaucratic reshuffling?

6. How will coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation be managed?

Sanitation is inherently linked to public health. How will the two ministries coordinate moving forward to ensure that health-related outcomes of sanitation are not neglected? Is there a joint coordination mechanism or inter-ministerial platform to maintain alignment on disease surveillance, hygiene promotion, and community health initiatives?

WASHNET’S POSITION ON THIS SHIFT?

As Sierra Leone embarks on this new institutional path, these critical questions must not be overlooked. The sanitation mandate transfer offers an opportunity to strengthen systems, redefine roles, and build a more coordinated and responsive WASH sector. But to achieve that, we need transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to learning as we go. This is not just a change in ministries — it is a moment to redefine how we deliver dignity, health, and resilience through sanitation.

Before transferring the sanitation mandate, a comprehensive institutional and policy assessment should have been conducted to determine the readiness of the receiving ministry and clarify the roles and functions of both institutions. This would involve reviewing existing policies, identifying overlaps, and mapping gaps in sanitation governance and coordination.

Inclusive stakeholder consultations were essential to build consensus and align expectations. These should have brought together the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water Resources, local councils, development partners, and civil society organizations to jointly shape a transition roadmap. Such a roadmap would outline timelines, phased responsibilities, and mechanisms for joint oversight and communication throughout the transition period.

Furthermore, an institutional capacity assessment of the Ministry of Water Resources was necessary to identify technical and operational gaps, including human resources, financing, and systems readiness. Legal and policy instruments also needed updating to formally legitimize the transfer, while a public communication strategy should have been deployed to ensure that all stakeholders — especially local government authorities — were well-informed and prepared for the change.