Sierra Leone launches its WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping Report
Working with partners to improve WASH in Sierra Leone
On 3 October 2023, a high-level Safely Managed Sanitation advocacy workshop was held, followed by the joint launch of the WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping Report (WASHNORM) 2022 and the kickstart of the WASH Information Management System (WASHIMS) Platform, launched by the Honorable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy, and the UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, Mr. Rudolf Schwenk. These milestone events culminated from collaborative efforts involving the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and other key players in Sierra Leone's WASH sector. The collective goal of the high-level meeting was to advance Safely Managed Sanitation (SMS) in Sierra Leone and foster a shared understanding of SMS among the sector actors and policymakers.
The WASH-NORM initiative aligns with the 2020 National Strategy on Sanitation and Hygiene, which aims for universal access to basic sanitation. UNICEF played a pivotal role in developing a National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and conducting a national WASH infrastructure mapping exercise. However, challenges in implementing the M&E framework led to the inception of the first WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH-NORM).
WASH-NORM represents a crucial step in addressing data gaps in the sector. It aims to generate evidence for informed decision-making, resource mobilization, and improving access to quality WASH data. This initiative monitors various aspects of WASH services and behaviors, contributing significantly to the National Sanitation Game Plan. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights to guide policy formulation, resource allocation, and interventions aimed at improving WASH access and behaviors in Sierra Leone. Ultimately advancing the country's journey towards safe and sustainable WASH services for all, in alignment with the SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.
WASH-NORM is a comprehensive household and facility-based national survey that utilizes Enumeration Areas (EAs) defined by Statistics Sierra Leone from the 2021 Mid-Term Housing and Population Census.
Thematic indicators covered in the survey include:
• WASH services functionality
• Levels of access (basic, basic+, and safely managed)
• WASH behaviors (sanitation and hygiene knowledge and practices)
• User participation (existence and functionality of WASH Management Committees)
• Gender and inclusion considerations (including disability)
• Reliability and durability (facilities' downtime, Facilities O&M Practices, supply chain)
• Water quality
• Affordability and willingness to pay for services
• Household expenditure on WASH services
• User satisfaction (user choices and preferences)
• Sustainability practices
Key Objectives of WASH-NORM:
• Data Provision for Informed Decision-Making: Facilitating up-to-date and accurate data provision is paramount. This empowers decision-makers at all levels to make evidence-based choices that drive effective WASH sector management and planning.
• Regular Progress Updates: Ensuring regular updates and publication of progress reports on key sector outcome indicators. This keeps stakeholders informed about the state of WASH service delivery, influencing programming decisions and driving improvements.
• Reference Dashboard for Monitoring: Serving as a reference dashboard for systematic progress monitoring towards key sector goals and targets. This enhances transparency and accountability, providing a framework for tracking advancements and shortcomings.
• Priority Setting and Coordination: Providing a foundation for the iterative definition of sector priorities and targets. This facilitates adaptive planning and efficient coordination of interventions.
• Addressing Inequities and Deprivation: Generating disaggregated data to reveal disparities in WASH service distribution. This guides interventions, promoting equity and inclusivity within the sector.
• Capacity Building and Monitoring: Enhancing the capacity of WASH institutions at all levels. This supports systematic monitoring and tracking of WASH results and outcomes, promoting sector-wide improvements.
• Promoting Sector Marketability: Enhancing the marketability of the WASH sector through advocacy, engagement, and planning. It also aids in developing comprehensive state-wide WASH investment plans.
• Government-led Evidence Generation: Fostering government-led evidence generation, reinforcing data-driven decision-making, and enhancing transparency and accountability.
• Sustainability and Behavior Programming: Providing essential data for programming aimed at sustaining WASH services and behaviors, including user satisfaction, hygiene practices, and water quality.
Key Findings:
The WASHNORM report is a vital resource for strategic advocacy, engagement, planning, and budgetary allocations within Sierra Leone's WASH sector. Key findings underscore pressing challenges:
Access to Water Services:
• Access to basic water supply services reaches 62.6 percent of the population, with disparities among regions and between urban and rural areas.
• Only 9.4 percent have access to improved, protected water supply within their premises.
• The most common source of drinking water is protected dug wells (37.5 percent).
• Approximately 67 percent of households do not treat their water to make it safer.
• 70.3 percent of households reported water unavailability for at least one full day in the past two weeks.
Access to Sanitation:
• Access to basic sanitation services reaches 13.6 percent, with disparities between urban and rural areas.
• Approximately 47.8 percent of households share toilet facilities.
• 25.1 percent of Sierra Leoneans defecate in the open, with the Southern region having the highest rate (43.5 percent).
• Rural areas are nine times more likely to defecate in the open than urban areas.
• Only 2.7 percent of persons with disabilities find improved latrines accessible.
• 46.5 percent of latrine platforms are not safe for children's use.
• 27 percent of household members feel at risk while using their toilets/latrines.
Access to Hygiene:
• Access to basic hygiene services reaches 11.6 percent of households, with slight disparities between urban and rural areas.
• Approximately 61.8 percent households lack handwashing facilities.
• Only 49.3 percent of households have access to soap.
• Only 9.6 percent of household heads can demonstrate proper handwashing.
• Approximately 67.1 percent of households are likely to practice proper handwashing.
• 14.8 percent of households reported diarrhoea cases, primarily among children under five.
These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions and investments to address these challenges and ensure equitable access to WASH services and improved hygiene practices across Sierra Leone.
UNICEF will continue to support the Government of Sierra Leone and other stakeholders in the efforts to improve WASH to leave no one behind.
