Will Tillett, Global WASH Advisor for Self Help Africa, Emphasizes Importance of Collaboration.
By TheInvestigator
As a follow-up to the recent LGA-wide assessment in Yala Local Government Area (LGA), key stakeholders in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector gathered for a one-day workshop to chart a path from data collection to steps to the development of a sustainable strategic plan. The workshop brought together actors from both state and LGA levels to review findings from the assessment, reflect on progress made, and discuss how best to scale up professionalized approaches to rural water service delivery across Yala LGA.
Organized by Self Help Africa under its WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the meeting focused on how the Society for Water & Sanitation NEWSAN can support the LGA in strengthening collaboration, reviewing progress, identifying systemic challenges, and mapping out actionable next steps.
The workshop aimed at:
- Snapshot of the outcome of the LGA-Wide Assessment
- Insights from recent baseline surveys
- Strategies for improving the sustainability and quality of rural water services
The session opened with welcome remarks from Mr Ebiye Dorgu, State Coordinator of Self Help Africa, who gave an overview of the LGA-wide approach and key milestones achieved so far. Stakeholders then reviewed the provisional findings from the assessment conducted in Yala.
Following a tea break, discussions shifted toward strategic planning and addressing the systemic challenges undermining rural water service delivery. Participants examined lessons from the ongoing SURWIN pilot project and took part in a participatory SWOT analysis session—exploring strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to water service provision in the LGA.
Will Tillett, Senior Global WASH Advisor at Self Help Africa, stressed the importance of collaboration and systems thinking.
“Collaboration is key, and system strengthening is essential to scaling our impact. We can only strengthen the system by actively using it,” he stated.
He also underscored the role of data in guiding interventions, saying,
“You need data to make evidence-based decisions.”
These sentiments were echoed by Hamza Datti and Ebiye Dorgu, both of whom reiterated the need for coordinated action and long-term planning.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Mrs Augustina Okem, Chairperson of the Yala Local Government Task Group on WASH.
“It is not yet over until it is over,” she said, expressing her appreciation to Self Help Africa and reaffirming the commitment of the local government council to collaborate for improved water access in rural communities.
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