The workshop also provided a platform for the creation of tools to track WASH infrastructure and projects within their communities and beyond …
By Ashie Osor
In a bid to strengthen the capacity of Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) members in Cross River State on financial accountability, BudgIT, a Nigerian civic organisation that applies technology for citizen engagement, in partnership with Self Help Africa (SHA), recently organised a workshop in Calabar, the state capital. This was through it’s WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme funded by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The two-day workshop focused on enhancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service delivery across the state, emphasising the focal local government areas of Yala and Obubra.
The workshop also provided a platform for the creation of tools to track WASH infrastructure and projects within their communities and beyond, to ensure that WASH attains the SDG 6 for good water and sanitation for all by 2030.
A facilitator at the event and Cross River Representative for BudgIT, Joshua Otei, in a topic, “Financial Accountability,” explained that financial accountability boosts donor confidence, supports sustainable service delivery, aligns with development goals and remains critical for WASH projects while ensuring that funds are efficiently and adequately used for their intended purpose.
He added that the purpose of financial accountability spans through transparent and compliant use of WASH resources, strengthening partnership with stakeholders and building capacity of NEWSAN members in financial management, to supporting Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) and SDG 6 targets for WASH.
Continuing, the facilitator maintained that Transparency, Integrity, Stewardship, Compliance and Answerability (TISCA) were core principles guiding ethical financial management in WASH projects, which ensure that funds are effectively used and in accordance with stakeholders’ best interests.
On key practices to prevent fraud and ensure accountability, participants were tutored to clear procurement policies, carry out regular reconciliation, do background checks and adhere to the whistleblower policy, among others.
To ensure longevity of WASH project assets through proper asset management, participants were charged to always carry out maintenance schedules, do inventory management and maintain fixed asset registers.
During the interactive session, participants advocated a budget implementation circle that is citizen participatory while ensuring that citizens get involved in programming and tracking of government activities in a bid to hold them accountable for budgeted items.
Admitting that citizens are the biggest arm of government, hence the need to always hold government accountable, they made a case for citizen score cards to get involved mostly in the WASH sector, if the development goals are to be attained.