MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Local civil society organizations working in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector have heightened their advocacy for increased funding and better services.
In commemoration of the 2025 World Water Day, observed on Tuesday, March 25, civil society WASH actors petitioned the government, through the National Legislature, to prioritize the sector to improve citizens’ livelihoods and the economy.
“Glacier Preservation” was the theme of this year’s World Water Day as set by UN-Water, the UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation. At the same time, the local WASH CSOs observed the day under the national theme: “Preserving our Human Rights to Water: A catalyst for human development.”
In the petition presented to the WASH Legislative Caucus at the seat of the National Legislature on Capitol Hill in Monrovia, the group reminded the government that the right to safe water and sanitation services is at the heart of all fundamental human rights.
Presenting the petition, a member of the group, Windell King, highlighted several challenges in the country’s WASH sector, stressing the need for action from stakeholders.
“Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene underpins wider efforts to end poverty, advance other interrelated Sustainable Development Goals and, more importantly, strengthen peace and stability,” Mr. King emphasized.
Quoting several reports from international organizations, he disclosed that as of 2022, 1.3 million people in Liberia, or 1 in 4 of the population, lack access to clean water close to home and that 4.1 million people, 8 in 10 of the population, do not have access to a decent toilet.
Mr. King further noted that around 1 million people, at least 9 in 10 of the population, lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home.
“Poor sanitation costs Liberia 17.5 million USD, and over 3000 persons die each year, WSP-2012. Over 50 per cent of HCFs in Liberia lack access to WASH services, JMP 2023,” Mr. King added while reading the petition.
He, at the same time, reminded government of commitment in its development agenda to establish an integrated WASH Management Information System, increase safely managed water access to 65 per cent and basic access to 90 per cent, end open defecation practices and increase safely managed access to sanitation to 50 per cent and basic access to sanitation to 85 per cent by 2029.
As part of recommendations in the petition, the civil society WASH actors called on the government to seek additional partnership for grants and loan to complete ongoing projects, that County Development Agenda and resolution include WASH budget and that the National Legislature takes immediate actions to review the budget, engage the Finance Minister and the President to ensure increased financing for WASH and that the recast national budget for 2025 to prioritize the implementation of incomplete WASH projects.
In response, the Chairman of the WASH Legislative Caucus, Grand Bassa County Representative Thomas Goshua, acknowledged challenges in the sector that need the government’s attention.
Representative Goshua stressed the need for more support to the WASH sector, especially in the midst of declining donor support, particularly from USAID.
“The WASH Legislative Caucus’ attention has been drawn to the current withdrawal of major donors’ support and those supporting the WASH sector, and it should be a wakeup call to the Government of Liberia and all citizens to double-up effort to prioritize WASH financing and ensure ownership and sustainability of WASH initiatives in the country,” Representative Goshua noted.
He assured the petitioners, the entire citizenry, and development partners that the caucus members will begin engaging fellow lawmakers and officials of the Executive to ensure funding is allocated in the 2025 recast budget, to address some concerns raised in the petition.
Also speaking during the program, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) CSO Focus Point for Liberia, Timothy Kpeh, called on President Joseph Boakai to sign the Liberia WASH Compact 2.0 as a means of demonstrating high-level political leadership for WASH.
He described the WASH Compact as a Heads of State Initiative intended to help presidents and prime ministers make water, sanitation, and hygiene a national priority.
Mr. Kpeh noted: “These initiatives underpin critical development goals like making communities more resilient to climate change and solving public health crises.”
In addition to support from in-country partners, Liberia’s Presidential Compact is supported globally by the Government of the Netherlands, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UNICEF, the Sanitation and Water for All partnership, IRC WASH, and WaterAid.