By Bisola Adeyemo
WaterAid Nigeria and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) have signed a three-year partnership with the aim of boosting and supporting sector capacity for sanitation programme design and development in Nigeria.
In 2018, to address Nigeria’s water, sanitation and hygiene crisis, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in the sector and called on all state governments to take action to end open defecation by 2025.
Over the years, rural sanitation programming has shifted from construction-driven approaches towards social mobilisation and behavioural change approaches; with market-based approaches gaining momentum. Although these innovations have been important steps forward, they have resulted in mixed outcomes and shown that applying a blueprint of single approaches across large areas or even countries, does not always work and is simply not enough to reach everyone, everywhere, Environews reports
Additionally, the cost of facilitating and delivering sanitation approaches is often not well-understood or monitored. Fast-tracking progress requires a new way of thinking and planning for rural sanitation. To address this, WaterAid collaborated with Plan International UK and UNICEF to develop guidance on programming for rural sanitation for programme policymakers, planners and implementers, outlining how to design an equitable and sustainable rural sanitation programme at scale.
“A multi-partner approach is crucial to realising the overall objectives and goal of the National Action Plan to revitalise the water, sanitation and hygiene sector and through this partnership, key drivers in the sanitation sector will gain relevant knowledge in sanitation approaches targeted at delivering equitable and sustainable results at scale.
“Nigeria is of such global importance that achieving progress on water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria will have a transformational impact on water, sanitation and hygiene access at a global scale.
“The stark realities around us are more than enough indication that we simply cannot afford to continue with the status quo. We must take urgent action to accelerate Nigeria’s progress or face a worsening crisis with real effects on human lives. We must, by every means possible, move Nigeria’s development forward, improve access to basic sanitation and end open defecation.”
Quality journalism costs money. Today, we’re asking that you support us to do more. Support our work by sending in your donations.
The donation can be made directly into NatureNews Account below
