The National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Commission of Liberia has invited the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) to deliver a keynote presentation at the country’s highest gathering of WASH stakeholders.
This was contained in an invitation letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Mrs. Funke Adepoju, and signed by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National WASH Commission of Liberia, Amb. Bobby Whitefield.
Adepoju, who is also the representative of Lagos State on the UNESCO Megacities Alliance for Water and Climate (Africa Region), and Member of the International Water Association Task Force on Urban Sanitation Initiative, was specifically invited as a Keynote Speaker in recognition of her efforts towards effective regulation of the Water and Sanitation sector.
According to Whitefield, Adepoju is expected to lead the way in stimulating discussion and mapping progress on key issues including climate change, gender, health and WASH beyond households at the Joint Sector Review (JSR) 2023 scheduled for April 25 – 27 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, Liberia.
“The WASH Joint Sector Review (JSR) 2023 event is the largest assembly of water, sanitation, and hygiene actors in Liberia, aimed at mapping progress made over the period of 2018 to 2022; identify key areas for improvement and recommend actions for endorsement by the WASH sector under the auspices of the Government of Liberia.
“The JSR 2023 considers WASH governance as the building blocks and several cross-cutting issues including climate change, gender, health, and WASH beyond households.
“Each section provides an update on accomplishments since the last JSR in 2018. These will guide implementation toward the achievement of national targets and SDG Goal 6.
“Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission representation at the JSR is expected to serve as one of our keynote speakers. It is my pleasing duty, once again, to invite the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission to participate in this national event,” Whitefield said.
Giving further details, Whitefield added that the three-day event will equally engender high-level participation in the opening session on April 25, 2023, and full-day participation in the final sessions on April 27, 2023, while there will be technical deliberations for high-level WASH technicians.
Responding, Adepoju said LASWARCO was delighted to be part of Liberia’s 2023 JSR to compare notes and share experiences on how best to address the challenges in the WASH sector and set the tone for the transformation of the sector in Africa.
“Considering that there is an unbreakable relationship between WASH, health, and sustainable environment, it is important for all stakeholders to continue to make concerted efforts geared to ensuring that the identified challenges are addressed, while also working to promote best practices to foster livable, safe and secure environment.
“As a Commission, LASWARCO has implemented landmark reforms in the last four years with the backing and support of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to transform the entire WASH ecosystem and actively deployed regulation to protect the environment and ensure that service providers strictly adhere to international best practices which have resulted in better outcomes toward safeguarding the health of residents.
“We are excited to share experiences and explore collaborations that will engender a win-win situation for all stakeholders and importantly ensure sustainable environment,” Adepoju said.
