Liberia: WASH Sector Stakeholders Push for Increased Budgetary Support

Stakeholders of the Wash sector of Liberia have underscored the need for better budgetary allocation for the sector in order to address the many challenges.

The sector stakeholders’ concern comes amidst continued advocacy aimed at improving the sector.

According to the stakeholders the amount of US$500,000 was allotted in the last national budget for the sector but such money was not disbursed.

They said there is a need for the government to increase the sector budget to US$1 million within the current fiscal budget year.

Grand Bassa County Senator Jonathan L. Kaipay has said budgetary support for the WASH sector across Liberia is necessary, but there is a need for the sector to identify projects to get budgetary support from the Legislature in the 2023 budget and beyond.

Kaipay made the remarks recently during the civil society and partners’ budget advocacy forum with lawmakers held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia.  

“If I am advocating for the increment in the WASH Sector budget, I have to inform my colleagues about the various projects that for instance the money will be used for and what Liberia will achieve if those projects are implemented. If this is done, we have more strength to advocate and you can get more money,” Kaipay said.

Kaipay argued that many times institutions push for budgetary support without presenting any projects that the money if provided will be used for or programs that informed the policymakers about the decision to take in the interest of Liberia.

As a student of finance, Kaipay said there must be programs or projects for resources to be provided to the institution and called on the WASH sector to find appropriate programs for 2023 and beyond that require budget support, and the lawmakers will advocate for resources.

According to him, there is a new discussion to ensure that all new mineral development agreements have resources to help in addressing issues in the WASH sector and there are already indications that resources will be placed where they are needed and transferred to the different sectors.

Kaipay said the government cannot be expecting US$30 million from partners and doing nothing or providing any funding to match the partners’ support to the sector.

He said they are looking at other ways where the WASH sector can raise resources and the Legislature can use it to determine how much to give the WASH sector and not just depend on national budget support.

The Executive Director of United Youth for Peace, Education, Transparency and Development in Liberia, a civil society organization, Timothy Kpeh, said the WASH sector does not have a dime in the current budget and therefore, calls on lawmakers to do something since the budget is still before them.

“This budget should not be passed without that funding being included in the budget and increased to US$1 million. If the budget is increased, it will give some level of encouragement to our partners to continue to support the sector,” Kpeh said.

Kpeh added that the involvement of the lawmakers will show the political will, create the condition for sustainability and change the mindset of citizens to take ownership and the WASH commission will achieve its goal.

He said the government had earmarked US$30 million to end open defecation and the government had developed a framework that should guide the implementation of the money but today the document is still with the President and waiting for his endorsement.

“We want you to look in that direction through your various political means and join the civil society because we want to hold our international partners accountable tomorrow based on our government principle and policy,” he said.

He calls on the lawmakers to ensure that during the county sitting where citizens decide on development, at least 10% of the total county budget be given to the WASH sector because believes that will support international efforts to end open defecation and ensure that everyone everywhere receives hygiene services.

Margibi County District #3 Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh said working with the local government act of 2018 will help to yield results for the WASH sector.

“I don’t want to see something on the paper that will allow the government to pass the MCC test and we all will be celebrating but in reality. It is the opposite. The case study you got five hundred thousand but in reality nothing,” she said.

Attoh-Wreh said they intend to reach the money this time around to US$1 million but what the WASH sector will receive in reality is her major concern.

“We need to know why it was written in the book but you did not get anything. We cannot increase the budget when you had US$500,000 but you received nothing. In Margibi for instance, some structures need to be put in place and if they are not, the executive who is the head of the local government will make use of the opportunity to put people who are not inclined to the subject matters but will sign and the implementation part will not exist,” Attoh-Wreh said.