Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio Launches National Water Security and WASH Access Project, Calls for Collective Action on Clean Water and Sanitation
In his keynote address, President Bio described the launch as a historic milestone in Sierra Leone's ongoing quest for equity, dignity, and sustainable development. He emphasized that access to safe water and sanitation is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
'My government is guided by the belief that access to safe water and sanitation is not a favour extended to the few, but a right guaranteed to all,' the President declared. 'That is why WASH is at the heart of our National Development Plan and central to our Human Capital Development agenda.'
The President decried the daily challenges faced by citizens, stating that no child should have to walk miles for water before school, no mother should risk infection during childbirth due to lack of clean water, and no community should endure the indignity of open defecation or waterborne diseases in the 21st century.
He affirmed that the new WASH programme marks a decisive step to break the cycle of deprivation. Structured in three progressive phases, the initiative provides a coherent roadmap to achieving water security and sanitation access nationwide. Each phase, he assured, will be robustly monitored, implemented with transparency, and tied to incentive-based delivery mechanisms.
President Bio said the programme envisions a future where water poverty is eradicated, girls stay in school thanks to improved sanitation, health facilities are safe and functional, ecosystems are protected, and 5,000 jobs, including 2,000 for women, are created through a gender-responsive recovery.
He also announced plans to establish a Water Administration House to consolidate oversight, regulation, and coordination within the sector. The President reaffirmed his government's support to strengthen the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, to enforce standards, attract investment, and coordinate stakeholders.
'This multiphase programmatic approach is a shining example of what is possible when national ownership meets international solidarity,' he said, adding that the project aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
President Bio acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, the WASH sector public servants, GUMA Valley Water Company, SALWACO, EWRC, and the National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA), calling on all stakeholders to deliver with integrity and excellence.
'As your President, I reaffirm my full commitment to this agenda. We will ensure the programme is fully resourced and that every Sierra Leonean, in both rural hamlets and urban wards, feels the impact of this transformative investment,' he declared. 'Water is not just a development commodity; it is a symbol of justice, a foundation of peace, and a building block of national resilience.'
World Bank Country Manager Dr Abdu Muwonge praised President Bio for his strong advocacy on behalf of the country, recalling how, President Bio personally made a plea in Washington for investment in Sierra Leone's WASH sector two years ago, which, he noted, resulted in funding this transformative initiative.
Dr Muwonge urged a holistic and inclusive strategy, strengthening the capacity of sector institutions such as GUMA, SALWACO, and local councils, while calling for nationwide engagement in the stewardship of water resources.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr Sao-Kpato Hannah Max-Kyne, described the occasion as a defining moment in delivering President Bio's development vision and called for national collaboration on implementation and the development of a clear, focused roadmap to address WASH sector challenges.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Member States and West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) participating Countries Validate Regional Strategies to Strengthen Identity Systems Interoperability and Stakeholder Engagement
The ECOWAS Commission and the World Bank, through the West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) programme, convened a regional validation workshop from 24 to 27 June 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The workshop brought together foundational identity (fID) agencies and functional service providers from WURI participating countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger and Togo), alongside representatives from ECOWAS Member States, to review and validate two strategic documents: the Stakeholders Assessment, Engagement and Management Strategy, and the Foundational Identification Systems Interoperability and Mutual Recognition of ID Credentials Strategy. The aim of the Stakeholders Strategy is to ascertain the broad spectrum of actors in the foundational and functional ID ecosystems in the countries while the Interoperability Strategy aims to support the countries to make informed decision in the formulation, harmonisation and adoption of a common position on the f ID systems interoperability and mutual recognition of f ID credentials agenda. The latter equally seeks to guide the WURI participating countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger and Togo) on the right steps towards the realisation of the programme success. Delivering the keynote address, Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Honourable Mubarak MOHAMMED-MUNTAKA, emphasized the profound importance of identity, not merely as legal recognition but as a fundamental human right and an enabler of access to services, social protection, security, economic inclusion, and regional integration. He praised the WURI initiative as a vital opportunity to ensure that 'everyone counts'. ' WURI represents our collective aspiration for a more inclusive and connected West Africa, where everyone counts,' he stated. Mr. Emil Tesliuc, Senior Economist and Social Protection Specialist/WURI Regional Task Team Leader of the World Bank urged all participants to reflect on the significance of WURI's development agenda of fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals target 16.9 – 'to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration' – by 2030, and its transformative potential in the West African region in creating a seamless, interoperable ID system that will serve as a tool for inclusion, regional integration and development, whilst mitigating the negative effects of the use of multiple single-use functional ID credentials for service delivery – the effect of which is disproportionately borne by the poor and marginalised population. The Chairperson of the Coordination Committee and WURI Project Coordinator of Niger, Mr. Abdourazakhe ABANI on his part, stressed the importance of preserving the principles of integration which are essential and indispensable to the survival of African nations and urged everyone to participate actively in the workshop as it is helping to put in place instruments that will enable millions of citizens living in our common space to access basic services offered by public and private providers in each country and on a cross-border scale. Speaking on behalf of H.E. Mrs Massandje TOURÉ-LITSE, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr. Albert SIAW-BOATENG, Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, stated: ' The Strategies were developed in such a manner that the accomplishments in the WURI participating countries are not infringed upon and they are coming to fruition at a time countries across the region are digitising their ID systems for improved service delivery, free mobility of persons, and regional integration '. He also expressed hope that the strategies would be utilised in a such a manner that WURI is beneficial to all – the people, the governments and businesses. The Strategies were developed in collaboration and coordination with the lead ID agencies in the region, including Burkina Faso and Niger and are expected to guide long-term digital transformation efforts in the identity and service delivery space. The workshop featured stimulating deliberations which resulted in concrete recommendations amongst which include for the region to advance its digitisation agenda particularly that its benefits outweighs the risks and for ECOWAS and WURI participating countries to adopt a progressive approach to the deployment of interoperability due to the varying levels of development of countries' f ID systems and of maturity of their digital economy ecosystems. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Jordan's King Abdullah II reshuffles Cabinet
King Abdullah II of Jordan appointed nine new ministers on Wednesday in a government reshuffle, the first since the government of Prime Minister Jaafar Al Hassan was formed last year. Cabinet changes are frequent in the kingdom, which has had 16 governments since King Abdullah acceded to the throne in 1999, after his father, the late King Hussein. The main portfolios remained unchanged. The changes comprised the portfolios of transport, youth, health, agriculture, investment, and environment, as well as two Ministers of State. Mr Al Hassan, who was formerly head of the king's office at the Royal Palace, heads a Cabinet of 29 members. According to their official biographies, the new Agriculture Minister, Saeb Al Khreisat, has a PhD in the field from the US, while Health Minister Ibrahim Al Budour is a brain surgeon, and Transport Minister Nidal Al Kattamin was a professor of traffic engineering. Investment Minister Tareq Abu Ghazaleh is an engineer who headed the economics studies department at the Royal Palace. The economy has been stagnant for the past 15 years, and King Abdullah has emphasised in recent years that the government should seek to make the country more attractive for investment and reform the bloated public administration by drawing up plans and presenting them to him.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Japan provides food assistance to Zimbabwe
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of JPY 200 million (approx. US$1.3 million) from the Government of Japan to support 32,000 vulnerable people with nutritious food assistance in Zimbabwe. The contribution will assist WFP deliver cereals, pulses and vegetable oil, ensuring that families have access to basic nutrition during the January to March lean season, the time between harvests, when food supplies are typically at their lowest. 'The Government of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe are very concerned about the food insecurity in Zimbabwe,' said H.E. Mr Shinichi Yamanaka, the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe. 'I hope that this food assistance will help these vulnerable people to overcome the lean season. We will continue our support to allow all Zimbabweans to meet their food security needs.' WFP's Lean Season Assistance response, supporting communities in the most food-insecure districts, is in line with the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment (ZimLAC), a multi-stakeholder body responsible for conducting regular livelihood assessments. "Thanks to this support from the Government of Japan, many families will not worry about their next meal when hunger is at its worst,' said Ms Barbara Clemens, WFP Zimbabwe Country Director and Representative. 'This contribution is a show of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, and we remain resolute in ensuring the right food reaches the right people at the right time." WFP supports the Government of Zimbabwe's Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy, which protects the most vulnerable individuals from worsening food insecurity. "We are grateful to Japan for their commitment to supporting the people of Zimbabwe,' said Hon Edgar Moyo, Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare. 'This contribution reflects our continued partnership with WFP to ensure food reaches those who need it the most and no one is left behind, in line with the mandate from His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa." The Government of Japan's continued support highlights the strong and enduring partnership between Japan, WFP, and the Government of Zimbabwe. Between 2021 and 2015, Japan has provided food assistance through WFP, amounting to US$15.8 million. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
