Sierra leone: Sierra Leone's Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation engaged in a donor coordination meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2026, signaling a decisive push to unify efforts under the Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project (WASHIT). Minister Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy led the call for strengthened alignment among development partners to enhance service delivery nationwide.

According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Dr. Macarthy articulated the Bio administration's vision for a cohesive and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene sector. Xavier Chauvot de Beauchene, leading the World Bank support mission, emphasized structured collaboration, robust data sharing, and investment frameworks designed to secure enduring impact.

Project Coordinator Mustapha Gibril outlined WASHIT's core components, establishing the foundation for partner contributions and strategic dialogue during the fourth day of the implementation support mission's inaugural visit.

Representatives from key development organizations including GOAL Sierra Leone, World Vision, UNICEF, WASHNET, CRS, AfDB, WHO, JICA, and Concern Worldwide, detailed ongoing initiatives. Interventions span the construction of thousands of water points, the deployment of climate-resilient systems, and innovative solutions such as prepaid water schemes, mobile money integration, and community-led governance models.

The gathering brought together more than 46 partner organizations, implementing agencies, and regulatory bodies. Discussions focused on sustainability through capacity building, preventive maintenance, and community ownership. Participants also addressed technical water quality challenges, infrastructure gaps in expanding urban centers, and the urgency of enhanced policy and regulatory frameworks.

Consensus emerged on strengthening coordination mechanisms through quarterly sector meetings, the establishment of a shared information platform, and the tighter alignment of interventions with national priorities. Emphasis was placed on public-private partnerships, gender-sensitive sanitation solutions, and structured management systems for critical infrastructure such as fecal sludge treatment plants.

The Minister hailed the dialogue as both timely and insightful, urging continuous engagement and consistent information sharing as the sector advances toward integrated, efficient, and sustainable WASH service delivery.