Starting today, the Government of Liberia will be hosting two important events in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

(WASH). This will include the first Annual Joint WASH Sector Review and the Launch of the Sector Investment Plan

and Capacity Development Plan. The Review will take place from 5-6 February at the Samuel Doe Sports Stadium in Paynesville, while the Launch of the two planning documents will take place on February 7 at SKD. The launch will highlight the completion of two important WASH documents – the Sector Investment Plan (SIP) and the Capacity Development (CD) Assessment Plan. Supported by the World Bank and UNICEF, the SIP and CD Plan will guide Liberia towards its WASH goals, as laid out in key policy documents.

The Sector Investment Plan provides an overall strategy for the water, sanitation and hygiene sector and gives clear estimates of the funds required to achieve national objectives, highlights priority areas and prices concrete projects the government and its partners should pursue in the core-period of 2012 to 2017. The Capacity Development Plan proposes a mix of methodologies including education upgrades, the development of sector specific block training courses with ongoing mentoring and practice, scholarships and internships and the development of processes and system to increase output.

The Review targets a technical audience. The Government of Liberia represented by the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation and other relevant ministries and agencies from both national and county level, as well as representatives from local and international NGOs, donor agencies, civil society organization and the private sector, will be in attendance. The Review will provide a forum for stakeholders to present and discuss the progress made against sector goals. Participants will analyze the sector in detail – achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and current gaps – in order to prioritize activities for 2013.

Both of these events directly respond to commitments made by the Government of Liberia in key policy documents – the Sector Strategic Plan 2012-2017 and the WASH Compact. The WASH Compact aligns the principles of the Sanitation and Water For All global framework for action with those of Liberia, and was signed by the President of Liberia, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. President Johnson-Sirleaf is also the Goodwill Ambassador for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Africa and Co-Chair of the High Level Panel of Eminent persons for 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the world global agenda.

The Ministry of Public Works through its Deputy Minister for Technical Service has called on the Government of Liberia and its development partners to fully support the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Capacity Development Plan. Presenting a summary of the Development Plan during the Launch event, Minister Victor B. Smith, said supporting the plan is like investing in the future.