Report on WSH-Net and Manifesto Campaign Launch

8/2/2019 Report on WSH-Net and Manifesto Campaign Launch

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h t t p : / / w w w . w a s h - n e t . o r g | | i n f o @ w a s h - n e t . o r g

15/02/2012

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network



BACKGROUND n September 2010, a Learning Forum that was organized by the African Civil Society

Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) together with its partners in Dar es Salaam,

Tanzania on equity and inclusion saw the formation of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Network (WaSH-Net) of Sierra Leone. This led to a stakeholders’ dialogue on the Right toWater and Sanitation which was a national dialogue to consider the issues and challenges of

the progressive realization of the right to water and sanitation in Sierra Leone by the Youth

Partnership for Peace and Development - an initial member of ANEW).

The dialogue which brought together a number of Civil Society organizations identified critical

barriers to the rights and access of WaSH which include insufficient political prioritization, weak

sector capacity to develop and implement effective plans and strategies, and uncoordinated

and inadequate investments to place WASH at the heart of national development plan.

Furthermore, weak CSO capacity to engage in the sector, low citizens’ engagement and

exclusion of the poor.

WHO WE ARE

Officially launched by the Deputy Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, WaSH-Net is a

network of civil society organizations in Sierra Leone with the desire of joining existing

platforms in addressing the critical barriers to achieving universal and sustainable sanitation

and drinking water for all. These barriers include insufficient political prioritization, weak sector

capacity to develop and implement effective plans and strategies, coupled with inadequate

investments to place WASH at the heart of national development agenda.

WASH-Net’s approach in drive is to enhance and facilitate a multi-stakeholder process across

the sector, engender and promote knowledge, identify opportunities for intervention and foster

learning and joint action.

VISION WaSH-Net envisions a country where everyone has access to safe water, improved sanitation

and hygiene services which is contributing to sustainable development.

MISSION

WaSH-Net’s mission is to contribute to the development of Sierra-Leone by supporting the poor

and marginalized groups to access safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene as a human

right, engage government and other stakeholders to ensure that these services are delivered

effectively to all.

I



We will do this by advocating for increasing numbers of poor households and vulnerable groups

to be able to enjoy the benefits of safe water and sanitation services for domestic and

productive use that is reducing poverty.

RATIONAL FOR INTERVENTION IN THE SECTOR

Civil society organizations have a critical role to play in promoting the national policy objectiveswhich will contribute to the Africa Water Vision for 2025: Equitable and Sustainable Use of

Water for Socioeconomic Development, and working with and monitoring States’ compliance

with their obligations under United Nations resolution on the rights to water, sanitation and

hygiene and other applicable regional and national instruments.

The fact that water is life and the provision of adequate water and sanitation services for the

people of Sierra Leone is a necessary precondition for socio-economic recovery at all levels of

society and in meeting MDGs and the PRS II targets. A lack of water and sanitation contributes

to poverty with the need to make good on the commitment to provide access to clean water to

the nearly 1 billion people worldwide who currently rely on bacteria-infested water that causeseverything from diarrhea to dysentery and fighting the disturbing reality that more people die

each year from contaminated water.

THE LAUNCHING EVENT

The Water, Sanitation and hygiene Network of Sierra Leone on 15 th February 2012 officially

launched its existence together with the WASH Manifesto Campaign by the Deputy Ministry of

Energy and Water Resources at the British Council Auditorium.

Attended my members of the civil society, media, political parties, development partners and key ministries, agencies and departments, WASH-Net through its members nationwide further

succeeded in attracting attendance and representation even from the local councils across

Sierra Leone.

2012 is a critical moment for Sierra Leone’s development; shaping the country’s political

direction through the forthcoming elections on November 17th. WASH-Net sees this as an

opportunity to engage on a massive citizen’s engagement processe that makes voices and

votes count in elections; in other words, using elections as tools to demand commitments that

ushers much-needed change within the WASH sector.

Followed by the Launch was the finalization of a Country Election Strategy for 2012 at the

Family Kingdom on 16th February led by Oxfam and the Urban WASH Consortium.



The program was called to order by Mr. Victor

Lansana Koroma, Secretary General of the

Network and Executive Director of Health Alert

Sierra Leone. He first welcomed guests andlater invited key dignitaries that were invited to

serve in various capacities after a silent prayer.

An introduction of the Chairperson was done by

Mr. Saa Matthias Bendu, Head of Media

Relations at the Network and at the same time

doubling as Head of Communications at the

Foundation for Democratic Initiative for

Development. He introduced the Chairperson

as a result of the late arrival of Mrs. Agnes Conteh, District Focal Point for the Bombali District.

Going through the entire pre-formalities, Mr. Koroma handed the event to the Chairpersons,Mrs. Jamesina King to lead the entire process. The entire event was climaxed with vote of

thanks from Mr. Foday D. M. Sesay, WASH-Net Regional Focal Point – North. Mr. Sesay then

expressed the Network’s appreciation to partners like WaterAid, Adam Smith International

(ASI), End Water Poverty, the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation, the media

and indeed the government of Sierra Leone and development partners.

The Chairperson of the

program, Mrs. Jamesina King,

in her opening remarks

welcomed guests to the

launch and noted that a

vibrant civil society force is

needed towards addressing

the dare needs of water andsanitation as part of the

country’s development.

The Commissioner furthercommended the network for abold and conscious stepstaken to ensure voices are



amplifies at the various levels that will lead to a sustainable in the water and sanitation sector inSierra Leone.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the ceremony, Commissioner Jamestina King, a Human RightCommissioner, said, the right to adequate water, hygiene and sanitation is an important

prerequisite to the right to health and adequate standard of living; noting that the need for anadvocacy platform that engages stakeholders at the various levels becomes necessary.

She maintained that, it is the fundamental part of the country’s human rights and itsunderstanding of a life and dignity. She referred to the campaign, has been very timely andrelevant.

According to Commissioner King, most people are without safe drinking water, and mostessential services such as hospitals, water, hygiene and sanitation. She therefore appealed toall stakeholders to participate in the campaign.

In her concluding opening remarks, she encourages others to be part of the campaign; notingthat it is but very important towards shaping the country’s water and sanitation goals.

She then proceeded to with the agenda by calling Mr. Musa Ansumana Soko, Chairman of the

network to give a brief overview of the launch.

Musa Ansumana Soko,

Chairman of the Water,

Sanitation and Hygiene

Network and Executive

Coordinator of the Youth

Partnership for Peace and

Development gave a brief

background of the network

and the rationale behind the

Manifesto Campaign. He said

the initiative started 2010 as

an alliance of civil societyorganizations in Sierra Leone.

Mr. Soko further stated that

that launching event is of two

folds; one being the launch of

the Network’s official

existence and the other as the Manifesto Campaign launch. He acknowledged the presence of



the network’s District Focal points and most importantly, representatives and chairmen of the

various district councils across the country with whom he said the network will be closely

working with.

In his overview of the Manifesto Campaign, he noted that the campaign took its root from the

2011 Partners Planning Workshop that was organized by WaterAid in Monrovia, Liberia. TheNetwork then saw the ardent needs to ensure elections deliver as tools to transform people

lives positively; in other words, making voices and votes counts in elections" he said. He

disclosed that, as partners in development, they will continue working with government in

ensuring that citizens benefit from water and sanitation as enshrined in the agenda for change

as a blueprint for Sierra Leone's development.

Furthermore, he gave the broader objective of the campaign; saying that “it is to ensure that

Presidential, Parliamentary and local elections become vital tools to demand commitment for

increased understanding that will lead them to publicly demand their right to safe drinking water

and sanitation in public fora during elections 2012 and beyond. This campaign will furtherstrengthen the capacities of WASH-Net’s member organizations for effective citizen

engagement in demanding for accountability and access to safe water and improved sanitation

for all particularly around the 2012 elections and beyond.”

Giving his overview, Mr. Soko highlighted that through this campaign, WASH-Net Sierra Leone

and partners want to continue ensuring that policies are translated into real actions that directly

impact on the lives of the poor and marginalized who are faced with the daily dilemma of

inaccessibility to safe, clean water and affordable sanitation facilities especially when this has

not been happening in previous elections.

He then finally reiterated that the already begun work with the political parties should be a

means to an end but building on what’s already being done and the media, said is a vital part of

this golden process.

Dr. Yassin Mshana, Unicef Representative and Advisor to Deputy Minister, Ministry of

Energy and Water Resources.

In Dr. Yassin’s opening statement, he commended the Network for the bold steps taken to

ensure water, sanitation and hygiene issues are brought to the fore of the country’s

development. Using elections, he said, is an innovative approach to ensure commitment and

citizens voices becomes things of reality if at all water and sanitation problems are to be

addressed.



He pointed that UNICEF’s work in the direction could not be overemphasized; especially as

they continue working with stakeholders across Sierra Leone to address various water and

sanitation issues.

He urged that government

scale up support and placemore priority to the sector,

taking into account that the

Manifesto Campaign is a step

in its rights direction. “WASH-

Net, I know, is operating across

the length and breadth of the

country. I will therefore urge

that you keep this momentum

moving, as civil societies

organizations have got a vital

role to play in ensuring that

government in its

responsibilities continued to be

engaged and reminded on a

constant and organized

manner.” This campaign, he

said, will also contribute

immensely to not only the rights

to education but hygiene promotion and development in the entirety.

Mr. Kwabena S. Manu, Representative from Adam Smith International (ASI)

Mr. Manu started by congratulating the network for taking the lead in shaping the focused

direction for citizens’ engagement in the water and sanitation sector. On behalf of Adam Smith

International, he said, “we will continue engaging with not only government but civil society

organization and the people of Sierra Leone” noting the Network’s approach in engaging duty-

bearers should not lose sight of the relevance of civil society; from consultation to collaboration

and to constructive engagement, to confrontation where government tends to renege on their

responsibilities.

In his proceeding statement, he commented on the very importance of the WASH Manifesto

campaign being pioneered by the network and its partners. This, he said, is indeed a laudable



initiative and that there should be coordinated efforts to realizing the all-embracing goal of the

campaign. Further, Mr. Manu highlighted to vital need to engage political parties to include

water and sanitation in the manifestos.

Furthermore, in the area of maternal access, he expressed concerns for the daily sufferings of

children and the struggles women usually undergo in the search for safe water.

Concluding his remarks, he noted that the challenges faced by Sierra Leonean regarding water,

sanitation and hygiene must be taken seriously and be speedily addressed and everyone has

got a part to play in that direction.



Mr. Thomas Amara, Director, Environmental Health Division of the Ministry of Health and

Sanitation.

In Mr. Amara’s opening statement, he

expressed profound thanks on behalf of

his Ministry to the Network for the

laudable change initiative they are

leading. Giving an overview of his

Ministry’s approach in the hygiene and

sanitation drive, he pointed a number of

good scores in the Community Led Total

Sanitation (CLTS) drive especially in the

regions. He further pointed the vitality ofcivil society organizations in the entire

CLTS process and how they have been

monitoring at the various levels.

In his continuing statement, Mr. Amara

drew the attention of distinguished personalities that despite Sierra Leone’s progress since the

war in 2002, poor access to water and sanitation facilities continues to inhibit the country’s

development.

Across Sierra Leone, he continued, just 47% of the population has access to improved drinking

water sources, whilst just 30% of Sierra Leoneans have access to adequate sanitation facilities.

The practice of open defecation remains prevalent, something t is reflected in the high

prevalence of diarrhoea and other infectious diseases in communities, particularly amongst the

under-fives.

The National CLTS task force he said, emerged from this to serve as a forum for advocacy,

providing capacity development through information and encouraging partners to share

experiences as well as contribute to quality implementation. District task forces have also been

established to support scale up, ensuring local government commitment to CLTS.

All CLTS communities have established village health committees which include a natural

leader. Their key responsibilities include the spread of CLTS to other catchment communities

and hygiene promotion.

He further expressed his Ministry’s commitment and willingness to continue working with the

Network in the most effective way they could. He assured civil society organizations and other

stakeholders in the WASH sector.



Claire Seaward is the Advocacy and Campaign Manager at Oxfam GB in Sierra Leone.

She started off by saying that she was presenting on behalf of the Urban WASH Consortium,

WaterAid as sponsor for the Network and Oxfam. Hi her opening statement, she introduced theUrban WASH Consortium with its composition of five International Non-Governmental

Organizations in Sierra Leone.

Highlighting that WASH-Net is

a unique platform especially

with the mixture of voices and

experiences it have got

through its broader

membership; recalling the

importance of the officiallaunch of the Network and the

Manifesto Campaign in the

election year of 2012. This

she said is a very great

opportunity to ensure water

and sanitation commitments

are delivering.

In her statement, she further

gave some vital strength ofthe network in the sense that through its diverse membership base, the issues are all very well-

known and that we are very close to the people who are undergoing the daily problems of

accessing affordable, clean and safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. She then

encouraged the Network to keep building on those strengths to ensure lives are continued to be

transformed. Further she said, WASH-Net should be part of that process that will emancipate

the many Sierra Leonean women and Children who undergo the daily dilemma – a crisis of

water and sanitation

She ended reaffirming her organization’s continued effort to engage civil society organizations

to whose extent WASH-Net is pivotal part of that engagement as it’s being the case.



Mr. Martin Bash-Kamara, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy and Water resources. “On behalf

of my Ministry; the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources ,” he said, “I want to take this

opportunity to congratulate members of the Network for its organized formation .” “Your workwith communities and especially the media is very well felt by the Ministry. Keep the spirit

moving” he urged.

As one of the neglected sector before now, despite the many challenges the Ministry of Energy

and Water Resources is facing we are still very cognizant of our dream to address the

sanitation and water crisis for the people of Sierra Leone. He said. The Minister therefore

continued to state how important civil society engagement is especially so when the effort could

not be single-handedly achieved.

He therefore urged citizens to

continue paying their dues

especially to constantly

maintain the structures and

facilities that permit timely

delivery and effectiveness,

adding that it is not water that

people are paying for but the

services that bring the water to

homes and families.

He then pleaded that Network

in its constructive engagement

drive continue with positive

criticisms that will foster

national development, with the

strong note that WASH-Net

should approach issues very professionally as it have always being the case. “Don’t allow to be

used for character assassination” he said especially during the 2012 political campaign drive.

Prior to the launching of the network and campaign, Mr. Bash Kamara revealed that, the

campaign is an additional effort to supporting Government’s initiative on safe water and

sanitation. He confessed that, his Government needed the partnership of other stakeholders,

especially civil society organizations, to improve services for the people of this country. The

minister further disclosed that, many people and communities in Sierra Leone still lacks safe

and clean drinking water and sanitized environment. He assured that his Government is doing

every bit to ensure that all communities benefit from these services.



He further assured civil societies of his ministry’s commitment in promoting the campaign and

urged them to encourage the public to pay for these services.

He concluded by pledging his Ministry’s continued support to WASH-Net and his Ministry will

work the best possible ways it could to ensure Sierra Leoneans are catered for with respect to

their water and sanitation needs.

And finally declaring the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network of Sierra Leone officially

launched together with the Manifesto Campaign. He ended.

As WASH-Net continue fostering it’s approach of ensuring multi-stakeholder approaches, the

Network will do in its diversity to continue working with the various communities, the media, civil

society development partners, central government and local council authorities who

represented their various district councils at the launch.

- Succeeded in bringing sector stakeholders together as an integral part of the

Campaign’s success- Commitment from government through the various ministries for their continues

support and wiliness to scale-up support to the sector and effectively work with civil

society

- Bringing together District Council representatives from the various regions of Sierra

Leone as an entry point for further engagement

- Wider media hype and coverage.

- Engagement of the Network’s District Focal Points in the finalization of the 2012

Election Strategy.

- The event continued strengthening working relationship with the various political

parties the Network has been engaging with.

Report on WSH-Net and Manifesto Campaign Launch

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