The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone-Dr. Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio has said investing in waster, sanitation and hygiene, is an integral part of securing our country’ sustainable development. He made this statement during his keynote address at the launch of the Sierra Leone Water Security and Wash Access Improvement Project and National Wash Sector Development Program, in Freetown.
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 just a few people, but a fundamental right guaranteed to all, and this conviction lies at the heart of our national development plan, and it is why we have placed the WASH sector at the core of our human capital development agenda….. no child should work miles to fetch water” the President said.
“As your President, I reaffirm my full commitment to this agenda. We will ensure the program 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.”
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.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Madam Hannah Isata Sao-Kpato Max-Kyne (PhD.), 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.
She laid out the government’s ambitious roadmap to reach 4 million Sierra Leoneans with clean water and improved sanitation by 2035. She said the end goal is to bring water to the people all across the country, first starting with the capital city, then district headquarter towns, and eventually the whole country. “This is not guesswork,” the Minister said. “We’ve used diagnostics, sector assessments, and extensive stakeholder input to craft a national strategy rooted in evidence, equity, and impact.” The Minister said.
World Bank Country Manager Abdu Muwonge (PhD.) 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.
The Sierra Leone Water Security and Wash Access Improvement Project and National Wash Sector Development Program is a groundbreaking 10-year $1.7 Billion project (2020-2035) World Bank-funded initiative under the theme “Securing Water, Enabling Dignity, and Advancing Development. The $170Million/year plan aims to reach 4 million people by 2035, achieving 90% national WASH coverage.