Sector Investment Plan (SIP) for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Liberia (Summary Report).

This summary SIP 2012-17 is a nationwide sectoral document aiming at providing information on investment needs, current planned investments and investment gaps to reach the targets set in the Sector Strategies and the planning outlook to 2030. Thus, it should be understood as the integral first part of a longer term development plan. For this reason, this SIP includes basic estimates of longer term requirements to complement the focus on the core planning period of 2012-17. The decision-making structures for the WASH sector are the National Water Resources and Sanitation Board (NWRSB) and the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Committee (NWSHPC).
The major interventions are needed in (i) completion of the institutional set up; (ii) capacity development at all levels; and (iii) increased funding, in particular regarding urban services. Implementation challenges related to funding and capacity are presented, as well as steps to address these challenges.
The document analyzes the investment required to achieve the different goals divided by area of intervention as follows (i) the urban SIP aims to provide access to water for 93% and to sanitation for 61% of the urban population by 2017; and (ii) the rural SIP aims to provide access to water for 67% and to improved sanitation for 52% of the rural population by 2017.
Main interventions in the urban areas shall achieve (i) water distribution extension project, dug well improvement project, water supply expansion project and also covering the sewerage and on-site sanitation activities; (ii) improvements to the existing communal wells in order to improve the water quality; (iii) the extension of the piped water supply system; (iv) rehabilitation and extension of the sewerage system to reduce the present discharge of untreated sewage; (v) improvement by the households of the toilet facilities connecting to the sewerage system, constructing septic tanks, and constructing improved on-site latrines; (vi) improvement by landlords of the sanitation facilities for rented accommodation; (vii) implementing public toilet facilities in market places and other public areas; and (viii) implementation of solid waste collection and disposal systems in the towns where piped water systems are implemented together with the sludge collection systems and treatment facilities.
Main interventions in the rural areas shall achieve (i) significant implementation by households for systems such as shallow wells, rainwater harvesting and latrines; (ii) implementation capacity of the ongoing NGO-programs; (iii) repair and rehabilitation of existing non-functioning water points and implementation of new hand dug wells, boreholes, spring protections and pipe systems; and (iv) increasing the investments in water and sanitation facilities in schools and health centers in rural and urban areas as well as public toilet facilities in public places such of market places, bus-stops, official buildings in the rural towns.
As for the Governance, the SIP 2012-17 includes the funding needed for implementation of the WASH Sector Capacity Development Plan (CDP). The CDP covers the strengthening of human and institutional capacities at national and sub-national levels as well as in the private sector, media and education and training institutions to ensure capacity and a conducive enabling environment for WASH implementation.