Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States are partnering the United Nations Childrens’ Education Fund (UNICEF), to strengthen Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects in their various state to avoid duplication and ensure resource utilization.
Speaking during a 3-day institutional WASH system strengthening review meeting for the states in Zaria, Kaduna State on Friday, the UNICEF WASH Officier, Kano Field Office, Mrs. Stella Terver, said the review will help in improving coordination, collaboration, and synergy between the agencies of the state governments saddled with implementing WASH projects.
According to her, UNICEF is examining the roles of various agencies, including the ministries of education, State Universal Basic Education Boards, and Primary Health Care Development Agencies, to ensure their activities align with the work being done by RUWASA (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency).
She said the UNICEF has been supporting the three states with the goal of improving WASH services, as such, reviewing the progress made so far, and ensuring compliance with the agreed actions in various areas was critical.
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Mrs. Terver highlighted that when these agencies operate independently or separately, it often leads to project duplication and unnecessary wastage of resources.
She added that the system strengthening review will enable them to work as a team to deliver better results especially for the benefits of children.
“In some schools, for example, you may find an existing WASH facility, but still see a new one being built. Meanwhile, other schools may have none at all,” she added.
A WASH expert, Dr. Ishaku Ziyok, noted that the benefits of these efforts, include the avoidance of duplication, leading to identification of schools in need of support.
He appreciated the efforts of the states toward institutional strengthening, noting that from the experience of his visits to the three states, the efforts are beginning to take shape.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources, SUBEB, Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), and other relevant agencies, all of whom are committed to improving WASH services for children across the three states.
