By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Freetown, July 7, 2025 — At a high-level press briefing held Monday at the National Water Resources Management Agency on Kingharman Road, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao‑Kpato Hannah Isatta, announced a transformative 10-year plan aimed at overhauling Sierra Leone’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector.
Dubbed the Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project, the initiative officially launches Tuesday, July 8, marking a significant step toward universal access to safe water and dignified sanitation. “We are building the foundation for a future where clean water and dignified sanitation are no longer luxuries, but universal rights,” declared Dr. Isatta.
World Bank Backing With $180 million in support from the World Bank over the next decade, the project is performance-based, with funds to be released in phases linked to verifiable implementation milestones. Phase One (2025–2028) will focus on climate-resilient infrastructure in underserved communities across the Western Area. Subsequent phases will extend the project nationwide, culminating in a consolidation and sustainability push between 2033–2035.
Strategic Phasing
– Phase One (2025–2028): Focus on Western Area under Freetown City Council and Western Area Rural District
– Phase Two (2028–2033): Expansion to provincial cities and towns
– Phase Three (2033–2035): Consolidation and system-wide improvements
The plan emerged from the WASH Poverty Diagnostic Study, conducted with support from the World Bank. Dr. Isatta emphasized that future policies would be grounded in verifiable data rather than estimates, ensuring accountability and sustainability.
Quality Control and Regulation Testing laboratories have been established in every district, with water quality assessed quarterly or semi-annually. Non-compliant facilities face closure. “This strategy has already helped curb cholera and other outbreaks,” noted the Minister.
Over 400 water service providers are currently registered, though more operate informally. Regulatory responsibilities are split between NWIMA (raw water) and a separate agency overseeing treated water. Infrastructure upgrades, including the revitalization of Guma Valley, will proceed alongside capacity building for regulators and local councils.
The government aims to leverage international technical expertise, especially for planning delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a passionate appeal, Dr. Isatta urged collective ownership of the plan: “Every voice matters. Everyone attending the launch is a custodian of this new vision.”
Echoing the urgency, NWIMA Director-General Julius P. Bangali emphasized environmental protections and planning. “Protective barriers are not optional. You cannot sustain infrastructure if you don’t shield it from climate risks,” he stated.
As Sierra Leone embarks on this ambitious journey, the vision is clear: clean water and improved sanitation for all, secured for present and future generations.