On Friday, June 27, 2025, BudgIT Sierra Leone hosted an inception workshop with district stakeholders for the Strengthening WASH Systems for Health Project. This project is carried out in partnership with WASH-Net and GOAL Sierra Leone. The inception workshop was convened to elicit feedback from stakeholders that will help provide the required information for the development of structured and applicable community-level tracking and feedback for WASH in Health Care Facilities. This engagement served as a strategic platform to explore practical tools that will be designed to enhance government accountability and improve service delivery in the WASH Sector.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders such as Civil Society Organizations, the District Budget Oversight Committee, District Health Management Teams, media personnel, and other relevant actors working within the WASH and Public Health Sectors. The Presence and contribution of these stakeholders underscores the critical role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing the systemic challenges facing WASH Service Delivery in the Country.
The event was chaired by BudgIT Sierra Leone’s Programs Officer, Mr. Martin. In his opening remarks, Martin reaffirmed BudgIT’s commitment to data-driven advocacy for improved governance. He emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the Institutional framework and public accountability to ensure equitable access to safe water and sanitation services in the five targeted districts and the country as a whole.
In providing information on BudgIT Sierra Leone’s operations, Communication Officer Cecilia Alice Sesay gave a comprehensive overview of our Mission and core interventions. She highlighted BudgIT Sierra Leone’s work in simplifying national budgets, public finance data and its role in promoting civic education through the use of accessible technology and participatory tools. Cecilia outlined the focus of BudgIT Sierra Leone on health and WASH-related public finance tracking, with the aim of fostering transparency and citizen-driven oversight.
In explaining the project to stakeholders, Mr. Brima Sesay mentioned that the Strengthening WASH Systems for Health Project is a multi-year initiative aimed at improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) governance and service delivery in Sierra Leone. He pointed out that a key component of this project is enhancing social accountability by equipping local civil society organizations (CSOs) and communities with tools to monitor and track WASH budgets, improve transparency, and report service delivery issues. He explained that in collaboration with WASH-Net, BudgIT Sierra Leone will champion the development and rollout of a simple yet effective community-level tracking and feedback tool that will empower communities to report WASH service issues, view budget allocations, and track spending in five target districts: Bombali, Kambia, Moyamba, Kenema, and Kono. He further told stakeholders that the tool will be designed to strengthen public engagement, transparency, and accountability in WASH service delivery by ensuring real-time monitoring and feedback mechanisms.
A Key highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the public health care facility budget accountability draft questionnaire developed to be reviewed or revised with input from stakeholders present. The information provided will eventually be used to develop the accountability tool to monitor WASH in HCF. The tool was presented jointly by BudgIT Sierra Leone’s Country Lead and Programs Officer Augustine Martin. Together, they explained the functionality of the tool, its relevance in promoting fiscal accountability, and how it could be adapted to reflect district-level WASH realities for broader impact.
Participants were engaged in an open session to review and provide input on the accountability tool. Stakeholders shared their thoughts and made significant inputs, including the importance of integrating local health data, involving community monitoring groups, strengthening district-level reporting systems, and using media platforms to promote awareness and public usage of the tool as soon as it’s completed. This contribution reflected a strong consensus on the value of collaboration in achieving sustainable improvements in WASH Governance.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Brima thanked the stakeholders for their efforts, active participation, and valuable inputs. He reiterated BudgIT Sierra Leone’s commitment to refining the tracker based on the stakeholders’ feedback and advancing collective action towards improved WASH Service across the targeted districts and the country at large.
This inception workshop marked a significant step toward building a transparent and accountable WASH System in Sierra Leone. By fostering open dialogue, showcasing practical tools, and engaging those closest to service delivery, BudgIT Sierra Leone is helping to lay the groundwork for a more effective and inclusive governance framework in the sector.