3 December 2012: The second review of Liberia’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Compact has highlighted delays in meeting commitments to ensure equitable and sustainable delivery of water and sanitation services for all Liberians.

The review, commissioned by the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Committee under the Ministry of Public Works, Liberia, was carried out by WaterAid and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Water Governance Facility at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

The review recognizes increased coordination, information sharing, focus and mutual accountability that has been achieved through the Compact, including a National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Committee, and development of a capacity development plan for the sector from 2012 to 2017.

The review also expresses concern over slow progress in other areas, including lack of progress on establishing a Water Supply and Sanitation Commission and other expected institutional arrangements. Noting the impacts of these delays on other areas, including monitoring and evaluation, gender equity, and environmental issues, the report calls for renewed lobbying to generate political will in these areas, and for donors and NGOs to ensure their support aligns with priorities outlined in the Compact.

The Liberia WASH Compact was developed after a 2010 Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) High-level Meeting in Washington DC, US, and a Joint Mission of development partners to Monrovia, Liberia, in April 2011. The Compact, developed jointly by government, civil society, development partners, UN agencies and the private sector, spelled out commitments over a two-year period towards the goals of: strengthening institutional capacity; ensuring equity and prioritized service provision; developing a monitoring system; and improving sector financing mechanisms.

President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf endorsed the Compact in January 2012. [Publication: Liberia WASH Compact Review Report]