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In 2023, CWSA focused efforts on increasing enterprise viability by supporting businesses to start sales of sanitation products as a pillar of the market-based sanitation (MBS) approach. This approach seeks to address the gap in supply by creating a complete sanitation supply chain that is coordinated through private sector business partners (wholesalers, retailers, and toilet product fabricators (artisans). The process engages businesses and relies on them to help end open defecation permanently. Their role in the process is critical because it promotes:
To kick start this initiative, CWSA identified and selected 97 small to medium business partners (of whom 29% were women) that were willing to invest in improved sanitation products and partner with CWSA. As a partner, they will receive subsequent tailored capacity coaching plans and technical training over the next four years to serve as an agent for behavior change and become a viable sanitation business.
This partnership was commemorated through a learning event in Gbarnga, where business partners learned more about their roles and responsibilities as supply chain actors and CWSA’s strategy for strengthening the business’ sustainability and viability. Additional information was shared on the importance of Quee SATO toilets, sales and marketing strategies, and the price index of the plastic toilet’s Commode (SATO pans and SATO stools). In support of CWSA’s MBS approach, the National WASH Commission CEO, County Superintendents, the Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders also attended the event. The learning event represented the beginning of a fruitful partnership towards permanently ending open defecation and closed with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between CWSA and 62 initial business partners – 25 in Nimba, 20 in Lofa, and 17 in Bong County. The remaining MoUs for identified businesses will be signed this project year. Over the next four years, this partnership will be cultivated to empower business partners to be more accountable and develop the knowledge and skills to run a smoother sanitation supply chain.
Monthly County WASH Coordination Meetings provide WASH stakeholders with a moment to convene, share updates, and facilitate knowledge exchange between key actors. While this sounds valuable in practice, over time these meetings have been sparsely attended, if at all, and as a result there has been limited visibility on sector activities. When sharing why this has been happening, WASH stakeholders highlighted the need to revitalize these meetings to ensure they are valuable, effective, and sustainable in the long term. To address this need, CWSA is in the process of experimenting with options to restructure these meetings to increase engagement – including changes in frequency, format, and structure. Counties are encouraged to, with support from CWSA, incorporate learning activities and prioritize creative and engaging ways to collect and share information on sector activities. One of the ways to do this is by strategically using joint visits to stakeholder locations to provide members with firsthand experience and knowledge.
Bong county in its WASH coordination meeting including representation from member institutions such as the Ministries of Education and Internal Affairs (MOE and MIA), as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Liberia Institute for Geo-information and Statistics (LISGIS), among others
In October and November, all five counties officially resumed their Monthly WASH Coordination Meetings – some for the first time since 2022 – with a total of 58 participants across the five counties (Bong – 20; Rural Montserrado – 15; Nimba – 9; Grand Bassa – 8; and Lofa- 6). While only a short time has passed since these meetings were revitalized, CWSA is already seeing positive change and a renewed commitment to holistically address and coordinate WASH at a county level. Notably, during the November WASH Coordination Meeting in Bong, CWSA staff took WASH stakeholders to see an installed SATO toilet and to demonstrate its functionality and foster interactive communication about the product. Following the site visit, Breakthrough ACTION’s Field Manager purchased three SATO stools and is working with CWSA to further link the market development team, local sellers, and community leaders to improve and upgrade existing toilets in their project sites.
When communication is consistent it’s easier to identify timely points of synergy, collectively brainstorm solutions to implementation challenges, and learn from one other. CWSA encourages WASH stakeholders to attend their County WASH Coordination meeting and contribute to more coordinated and impactful efforts to permanently end open defecation.
The USAID-funded Countywide Sanitation Activity (CWSA) aims to achieve a permanent end to open defecation (OD) across five counties in Liberia: Montserrado (rural), Bong, Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Bassa.
The objective of ending OD permanently will be accomplished through a coordinated network of public, private, and community actors, enabling Liberian households, to build improved toilets. The five-year project was awarded to Population Services International (PSI), which leads a consortium of organizations including Concern Worldwide, Athena Infonomics, and Gusceman Incorporated. This award runs from September 1, 2022 through September 30, 2027.
The consortium will achieve its project objective through interventions in the following four result areas:
Contact:
Learning and Communications Manager, CWSA
Mathew Ndote
Chief of Party, CWSA
