WaterAid, Coca-Cola foundation to improve access to safe water in Maiduguri

WaterAid, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), has launched an 18-month project targeted at improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services in four communities within and around the Maiduguri Metropolis in Borno State.

The project, titled ‘Strengthening Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Service Delivery in Borno State, Nigeria (S-WASH),’ will be managed by the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF). The intervention aims to reach at least 14,000 people directly in Pompomari, Jiddari Polo, Shehuri and Goman communities in Borno State, with improved water supply service and hygiene promotion.

The S-WASH project plans to construct and rehabilitate four water schemes and provide handwashing facilities in public locations. The project will work to educate people on hygiene practices for maximizing the health benefits of safe water sources and sanitation facilities; and distribute hygiene kits to residents in the target locations and at internally displaced people (IDPs) settlements.

The project also aims to support economic empowerment activities for women and youth through WASH-related business opportunities and ensure water quality by strengthening capacity of community-based management models for operations and maintenance.

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To support the sustainability of the project, the project aims to train local artisans, particularly youth within the community, on maintenance, operations, and minor repairs of water supply schemes. In addition, the project seeks to train about 30 women to operate, manage, and maintain the water schemes.

Evelyn Mere, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, said: “Equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services in Borno State has been severely hampered by the prolonged humanitarian crisis in the region. This situation exposes residents, especially women and children, to diverse kinds of risks, including the threat of attack and a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases.

“Water, sanitation, and hygiene services are critical for upholding human dignity and well-being. These services are critical to lifting people out of poverty, unlocking their potential, and supporting them to realise their full rights. We must ensure they are available to everyone, everywhere and no one is left behind.”

In her remarks, The President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg said, “Water security is a top priority at The Coca-Cola Foundation. We are therefore committed to supporting as many initiatives as we can that will reduce water challenges in Africa as well as enhancing water resilience and improving healthy watersheds in communities”.

“We are proud of the collaboration we have with GETF and WaterAid, who bring their expertise to bear and through who we are able to positively impact these 14,000 beneficiaries in Borno, Nigeria.”

According to the 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping Survey (WASH NORMS), 76% of people living in Borno State drink contaminated water, while 93% lack access to basic hygiene services. Also, only 14% of schools and 12% of healthcare centres in the state have basic water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.