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Over 20 local leaders from clans and towns in Weegbeh District, Grand Bassa County, have pledged to frontline the campaign to end open defecation in their communities by promoting the adoption of the Quee Toilet in all households. The leaders made the commitment at CWSA’s clan engagement meeting in April.
Madam Karmah Kuah, Commissioner of Weegbeh District (left image), called on her fellow clan leaders, "To make our district open defecation-free, we, as leaders, must set the example by purchasing and installing the Quee Toilet in our own offices and homes." Following the engagement meeting with CWSA, Madam Kuah procured a Quee Toilet for installation in her office.
She emphasized the importance of providing a comfortable restroom experience for all her visitors and family members, which she believes will encourage them to purchase the Quee Toilet for their homes as well. Additionally, Madam Kuah is leveraging local radio programs to urge communities to abandon open defecation practices and embrace the use of Quee Toilets in their homes.
CWSA adopted the Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) model as a strategy to promote sanitation business among women groups, the majority of whom are small-scale traders. Once VSLAs complete the process, they receive a loan for a period of 12 months with a grace period of 60 days to invest in buying and selling SATO pan and stool also known as Quee Toilets Liberia. The loan is then distributed among the business-oriented members of the groups.
Community members who buy the SATO Toilet are immediately linked with CWSA’s trained artisans who will then install the product in their homes. After generating profits, the VSLA members repay the funds with interest to foster the financial growth of the VSLA groups.
The recent engagement of Foundation for Women Liberia (FFWL) in Bong County brought joy to two VSLA groups (the Taimena and Traditional Women). The Taimena VSLA based in Palala received $150,000LD while the Traditional Women VSLA in Gbaos Town received $100,000LD.
These groups are a part of a network comprising 116 VSLAs under the banner of "Bong County Village Saving and Loan Organization." FFWL is currently in the process of vetting over 20 VSLA groups from the Bong County Village Saving and Loan Organization for potential loan disbursement in the upcoming weeks. This initiative is both increasing the sales of Quee Toilets to end open defecation and empowering women to break the chains of poverty.
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:
Abraham Nyorkor (Learning and Communications Manager, CWSA)
Mathew Ndote (Chief of Party, CWSA)
