Sinkor, Monrovia– Group of Civil Society Organization and Wash Sector Actors have adopted a Resolution intended to advocate for the establishment of a Standing Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Liberian House of Parliament.
The Signing ceremony was organized by Compassion for Humanity (C4H) Liberia, with support from the USAID funded Countywide Sanitation Activity (CWSA) being implemented by consortium of International NGOs led by Population Services International (PSI). The results of the advocacy will center around improved sanitation governance across the country.
During the one day event, the Body unveiled several counts (petition) for which their advocacy will focus on before the legislature, this include:
- That this petition is hereby formally submitted to the legislature to ensure that a Standing Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is established.
- That we will participate in Legislative Engagements to Formalize the WASH Caucus into a Standing Committee within the Legislature with priority of inclusive women, youth and persons in need of special attention as well as other vulnerable persons;
• That we will facilitate the works of the Committee to support WASH oversight and budgetary allocations at the national legislature for adequately meeting the needs of the country;
- That we will promote improved WASH/sanitation governance in the country for reducing the burden of health and economic challenges on the citizens;
• That the WASH Committee will strengthen the national WASH policy communication to promote sector-wide behaviour change;
•. That the national legislative WASH caucus secretariat be strengthened to ensure continuous championing of WASH issues at the national legislature;
•. That the government of Liberia, through the standing Committee, will ensure the standardization and regulate activities of the WASH sector;
- That WASH CSOs, WASH Sector Consortium, and private sector stakeholders lead and support the Standing Committee’s establishment advocacy campaign at the national and subnational levels;
- That we will facilitate the activities of the WASH Committee to establish countywide WASH campaign for improved national and local water management, sanitation and hygiene behaviour change and practices in every part of the country.
- That the Government of Liberia as part of its ARREST agenda under the Sanitation pillar declares a national emergency on Open defecation and ensure an enabling environment for active private sector participation.
Meanwhile, Giving the genesis of the ongoing Project was the Executive Director of Compassion for Humanity (C4H) Liberia, Mr. H Boweh Barduae who noted that the project arose in December 2023, where Population Services International (PSI) with funding from its back donor, USAID, awarded C4H Liberia a grant to implement a project titled: “Legislative Engagement to Formalize the WASH Caucus into a Standing Committee in the National Legislature”.
“let me say that coming together to have reflections and making commitment to advocate for the establishment of a Standing Committee on WASH at the National Legislature, we are influencing change for improved WASH governance in Liberia.” Mr. Barduae mentioned.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
