WASH-Net and WaterAid Build the Capacity of Community Stakeholders on Rights-Based Approaches

The Water Sanitation and Hygiene Network in Sierra Leone (WASH-Net), with support from WaterAid, recently conducted a rights-based approach training workshop for community stakeholders on how to hold their duty bearers to account in providing basic social services like water and sanitation at community level. The training took place at the Jabex Complex Waterloo in Western Rural District and was attended by various community members.Giving an overview of the training, the Programe Manager of WASH-Net Emmanuel Sandy said the training was very vital for stakeholders in their various communities. He said the need for rights-based approach training is to help facilitate a process whereby the citizens are empowered to hold the duty bearers accountable and to ensure that the availability of basic and essential water and sanitation services becomes a legal entitlement. He noted that it also works towards assuring the most vulnerable and marginalized people that they are not alone in the struggle to access WASH services, but rather a global priority. He pointed out the training further empowers individuals and communities from those excluded to participate in the development process as right holders and to serve as participants for others.“The rights-based approach empowers people and also amplifies their voices to demand for their right and also supporting them to discharge their responsibilities”, he said.  Making his presentation, Executive Chairman of WASH-Net, Musa Ansumana Soko underscored the importance of the training; adding that providing rights-based knowledge for community people will help them demand for their rights. He said the training will further increase community ownership to demand for effective service delivery as participants are given the right tools to be able to adequately engage at their various levels.He said rights-based approaches are a transformational tool which empower citizens to hold duty-bearers accountable in providing WASH services in their communities and that the training was a description of what advocacy is all about, and how to use the rights-based approaches to achieve the desired goal.    He explained that citizens should be given the adequate knowledge to first understand the processes and then to hold the government accountable for not providing these basic social services, especially WASH. He said among all services affecting the people, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and poor hygiene conditions has posed serious challenges at community level. He cited negative impacts on women and children in the search for these services.“By recognizing water and sanitation as human rights, people are defined as rights-holders and the state as duty bearers of water and sanitation service provision. This means that the provision of water and sanitation is not a matter of charity – but a legal obligation. Citizens can claim their rights and duty bearers must guarantee these rights to water and sanitation – like other human rights – equally, without discrimination and on the basis of participation and accountability. Musa Ansumana Soko said that community people should update government on issues affecting them through advocacy at their own level”.He pointed out that the rights-based approach is to break the barriers which people face to access WASH.He stated that community involvement is very important for the sustainability of advocacy. He said the training will create a wider community ownership in decision-making especially in raising awareness to make positive change in society.In his facilitation the Executive Secretary of WASH-Net Victor Lansana Kororma recalled how WASH advocacy has been going on the country and the positive impact they are making through working with the people. He said that they believe in evidence-based advocacy and placing people at the centre of designing solutions that address various WASH sector challenges. He said the training will help citizens to demand their rights and to know their responsibilities as community people to hold duty bearers accountable. He noted that the training was to build the capacity of participants which empowers them to demand basic services that should be provided for them by government.From the various challenges expressed by participants, it was reported that the entire amalgamated Western Rural District has not got a District Medical Officer (DMO) or a District Health Medical Team (DHMT). Adding to these challenges, it was reported to WASH-Net that the only ambulance service that was donated to the Council by Welt Hunger Hilfe is no longer available for use, but rather taken to Kambia and that the entire district is only reliant on taxi services whenever someone is sick or a woman is about to undergo maternity.The Executive Secretary concluded by pointing out that the role of WASH-Net is to advocate not only for, but with the people, in providing the enabling environment such as capacity building and sharpening the knowledge for informed engagement with duty bearers. Author: WASH-Net