MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector is one of many sectors affected by donor fatigue, coupled with the fadeout of USAID.
In the midst of this, key stakeholders in the sector have begun brainstorming ways to bridge the sector’s funding gap through the national budget.
The initiative is led by the WASH Legislative Caucus Secretariat, a technical working group of legislators and WASH actors working for the enhancement of the sector.
On Wednesday, the secretariat convened a budget engagement meeting with WASH line ministries and agencies, including the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Monrovia City Corporation, the WASH Commission, and other international partners at the Capitol.
Others included the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Health, and the United Nations Development Program.
The meeting aimed to improve understanding of the fiscal year 2026 WASH sector budget priorities and funding needs, and clearly identified funding gaps and legislative advocacy points.
It was also to strengthen collaboration between line ministries and agencies and the WASH Legislative Caucus.
In remarks, the Head of Secretariat of the WASH Legislative Caucus Secretariat, Timothy Kpeh, said discussions at the gathering will help the lawmakers make proper appropriation for the government’s WASH-related institutions through the budget.
“It’s where we as government institutions should be more open to explain what we intend to do in 2026, and right after this forum today, the detailed presentation of the ministries and agencies’ budgets will be printed and distributed among the lawmakers,” Mr. Kpeh explained.
He noted that the essence of such a move is to guide the legislators in their advocacy for proper budgetary allotment for WASH-related institutions.
For his part, the Chairman of the WASH Legislative Caucus, Grand Bassa County Representative Thomas Goshua, stressed the need for all stakeholders to ensure that the issue of WASH becomes a true national priority through the national budget.
“As you are aware, access to clean water and improved sanitation is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of public health, education, and economic productivity. Yet, many of our communities, especially in rural areas, continue to face serious challenges in accessing safe drinking water and adequate sanitation services,” Representative Goshua said.
The WASH Legislative Caucus chairman noted that the sector remains underfunded despite its impact on health, dignity, and sustainable development.
WASH-related institutions presenting at Wednesday’s budget engagement meeting reported financial deficits to adequately deliver on their mandates and functions, and also undertake necessary projects.
The WASH Commission spoke of a lack of adequate WASH data, vehicles, and water point mapping-something the commission’s CEO emphasized would need proper budget allocation to address.
For their part, representatives from the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) acknowledged that Monrovia is still challenged with the issue of waste management. They also highlighted limited manpower to clean the streets, funding to construct a new landfill, and the need for more trucks, as there is only one functioning truck.
The budget engagement meeting hosted by the WASH Legislative Caucus Secretariat was supported by WaterAid Liberia.