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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
------------- MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
RIVER GEE COUNTY
COUNTY WATER
AND SANITATION PLAN
September 2009
Sicap Sacré Cœur III Villa N° 9231 - BP : 16473 Dakar/Fann Tél : 869-37-93 - Fax : 827-94-99 - Email : [email protected] – Site Web : www.geradsn.org
I-BACKGROUND
1-1 INTRODUCTION
1-1-1 Background of the research
WaterAid is an international charity organisation focusing on the access of all to safe water and
sanitation services which are nowadays considered as vital needs but also are included in the MDGs
aimed at halving the proportion of people in the world without access to safe water and sanitation
by 2015. WaterAid’s strategy is built around strengthening the capacities of Local Governments for
them to achieve MDG 7 which is related to water and sanitation.
In this respect, WaterAid West Africa has developed a regional strategy (2005-2010),
implementation of which has provided satisfactory results in terms of access and management and
of decentralised water and sanitation services in the four countries where the organisation works-
Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Ghana. This regional strategy has built on the national strategic
and operational planning policies and documents on water and sanitation. The intended objective
was to develop the sector capacity through increased funding. The approach used was to support the
Local Governments (LGs) to focus on decentralisation and good governance since the sector
development plans are advocacy and negotiation tools to influence policies
The Mid Term Review of this strategy led to recommendations which include the broadening of
WaterAid’s work to other West African countries, mainly the desert and post-conflict ones. The
choice of Liberia is in fitting with this and aims to support the national and international
stakeholders who are striving to re construct this country. WaterAid’s contribution focuses on
improving access to safe water and sanitation but also promoting good governance and local
democracy.
1-1-2 Rationale of the study
The findings of the scoping study present Liberia as one of the poorest country in the world and this
poverty situation got worsened by the negative impact of the civil war (1997 – 2003), consequences
of which include:
a high percentage of the population (nearly 90%) living under food insecurity,
one of the highest level of child mortality in the world,
Civil war has caused not only the displacement of many Liberians towards neighbour countries, but also
the destruction of basic facilities and infrastructures. But the country is under reconstruction through the
peace Agreement signed in Accra in 2003 which led to the establishment of a transition government
tasked among other things, to organise democratic elections. This process is strengthened by the
permanent presence of a UN peace keeping force in Liberia with a primary mission of securing people
and their goods as well as human development.
The democratic elections held in 2005 and won by Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - first woman in Africa to
access this top level function provided a turning point for the reconstruction of Liberia which is marked by
an administrative re structuring and new Local Governments. Indeed, the country currently counts 15
Counties subdivided into Districts, each of which is made up of local communities.
high malnutrition level (30% of children under 5 years of age,
a low level of access to water (25%) and sanitation infrastructures (14%),
prevalence of endemic and infectious diseases including cholera.
The reconstruction process of Liberia under the supervision of UN peace keeping forces has
encouraged the return or arrival of financial partners working in various development areas. To
promote synergy of all the stakeholders’ work, the national authorities have initiated actions aimed
at a better coordination of these activities.
The consultation processes in the Local Governments went through a participatory approach and
enabled the development of a poverty reduction strategy document which was completed in June
2008. Then, an implementation plan of all activities in this document has been designed. Note that
each county owns a sector programme which summarises the key activities and their
implementation plan and timeline. The sector programmes which run from 2008 to 2012 set out the
implementation strategies and modalities of all development actions in Liberia.
In Liberia, the development of a County Water and Sanitation Plan requires both a strategy and an
approach focused in an effective involvement of the national authorities, in particular the Ministries
of Internal Affairs and Economic Affairs. This is to ensure consistency with the national planning
processes.
1-1-3 Methodology
The assignment took place in a post-conflict country where civil war has destroyed the social
pattern, therefore making it difficult to apply the traditional process of designing planning
documents. A flexible strategy has therefore been developed, taking into account a lot of
uncontrolled parametres. The team even took the risk in going to boundary area which is
particularly known as very dangerous as a result of the many crimes perpetrated on roads.
a suitable strategy: in this such a context, the consultant’s approach was to focus on focus-
group discussions, workshops and individual meetings. We met with the national authorities to
agree on a data collection approach to fully gather relevant information while ensuring the
security of the consultants. Workshops were organised in the chief town of the County to
include the stakeholders of the various Districts. Meetings were also held with national
The method used has focused on applying negotiation tools to help participants own the approach and
actions but also to ensure effective involvement of local authorities in the process. This approach
enabled to learn about the following which has to do with the civil war undergone by people:
withdrawal –autism and obvious individualism,
participants’ strong irritability during the workshops,
serious lack of communication infrastructures: most participants had to trek all night long to
attend the workshops as a result of the long distance between their Districts to the chief town of
the County.
authorities to materialise the actions agreed upon during the discussions between GERAD team
and the national authorities.
Focus on collective behaviour: the facilitation tools were guided by decoding the signs and
behaviours which underpin a group dynamic. The various stakeholders involved in the study or
working in the water, hygiene and sanitation sector were organised in groups of 5 to 6
participants by District. Except the representatives from the 8 Districts of Grand Kru, the
workshop was also attended by local authorities, local state agencies and one representative of
the local partner; the purpose was to carry out:
An assessment in each District, using a participatory approach with simple and practical
tools. Discussions focused on the role and importance of social services to bringing
back social cohesion,
An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the various districts,
Mapping of priority activities to be undertaken to improve the existing situation.
With this strategy, satisfactory achievements were gained through the suggested activities which
were shared and approved by the whole group, which means, the end of individual responses to
issues faced by the various social groups.
The methodology was completed by using various technical reports and reports:
- final report on the findings of the last population and household Census in Liberia; River
Gee County Development Agenda,
- Scoping study in Liberia
- The Liberian national Decentralization and Local Development program (LDLD). Additional quantitative surveys in selected households of specific Towns in each District.
II-FINDINGS OF THE ASSESSMENT
2-1. FINDINGS OF THE ASSESSMENT
Born after the breakup of Grand Gedeh, River Gee is one of the new regions of the country
created in the course of year 2000. Its creation was in response to the tensions prevailing in the area
between 1980 and 1990 and involving the Grbo and Krahn ethnical groups. FishTown, the capital
city and Kanweaken (trade focused city) and Webbo (religious city) have the largest number of
population.
With a surface area of 5627 sq, River Gee is in the South of Liberia between Maryland in the South,
Grand Gedeh in the North and Sinoe County in the West. It is limited in the East by Ivory Coast.
River Gee County has six Districts including 140 Towns and a population of approximately 67 318
people. The population density is 34 people per sq.
MAP LOCATING THE RIVER GEE COUNTY
2-1-1 Environment and population
environment: like almost all the Counties in the South of Liberia, River Gee has a semi equatorial
climate with hot and humid temperatures. The two major seasons found are:
a raining season from April to November;
a dry season period, from November to April
Very little temperature variations are noted from one season to the other although they vary
importantly from in daytime and nights. The average rainfall is 107 inches per annum.
The structure of geology and soils in this County is diverse and characterised by uplands,
particularly the Tienpo and Killepo Range mountains which give a natural shape to the County.
Water sources are made up of surface water, water falls which offer a lot of potential.
population: figures of the June 2008 Census provide that the County counts 67 318 people of
whom 53% are men. Although Grebo is the largest ethnical group (92%), other groups exist and
include the Krahn (6%) as well as other minority groups found in Liberia. The County people live
140 Towns and 12 571 households. The annual population growth in the County is 2.2% against an
average of 2.1% nationally. In average, a household has 7 people and the average number of
households per Town is 90.
District
names
Number
of towns
Population Number of
households
GBEPO 13 6 251 2 434
SARBO 31 14 906 973
POTUPO 15 7 213 1 116
TIENPO 22 10 579 2 005
WEBBO 48 23 080 4 844
CHEDEPO 11 5 289 1 198
TOTAL 140 67 318 12 571
The above table shows an uneven distribution of people in the County where the Districts of
Webbo, Gbepo and Tienpo record high concentration of people. This high density of population
creates increasing difficulties in terms of access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation. This situation
is more acute with scattered houses system which does not enable an optimal provision of basic
social services.
8,0%
33,8% 33,8%
23,4%
0,0%
5,0%
10,0%
15,0%
20,0%
25,0%
30,0%
35,0%
Higher Secondary Primary None
Highest education leval attained by anyone in the H/H
Surveys carried out in 200 households in 29 Towns in the 6 Districts indicate only 23.4%
households have no educated person. Meanwhile, many households have people with secondary
school levels and many others with at least a primary school level. Only 8% of the sample
households have at least one person with a high education level.
2-1-2 Local economy
economic activities: the study shows that more than half of the River Gee County people are
farmers. This is because of the conducive conditions of climate and soils which enable to produce a
variety of crops. But discussions in groups and with resource people in the District showed the
prevalence of subsistence farming but also insufficient agriculture products. Food gathering seems
to a preferred occupation mainly because of the dense forest which offers diverse plant production.
1%
5%
1% 3%12%
14%
55%
5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Artisan
Stu
den
t
Self-em
plo
yed
Merch
ant/T
rader
Un
emp
loy
ed
Civ
il Serv
ant
Farm
er
Oth
er
Occupation of H/H
Traditional activities including farming, livestock breeding and fishing among others have
developed very little or given insufficient productions. The conducive natural conditions made
people get used to living on food gathering and hunting. The majority of bush animals are edible
like the domestic ones which include goats and sheep, ducks and chickens, cows and others (pigs,
dogs, cats), etc.
Agro-pastoral activities are of a lesser importance to communities because of people’s strong drive
for mining work. Also, the insecurity and poverty tend to lead people to carry out subsistence
farming, mainly in a context where the equipment needed is scarcely available.
District
name
Farming Livestock Fisheries Commerce Artisan Others
GBEPO 80% and 20% Mining None None Business
SARBO
Susamps uplands
81%
Teachers, masons,
Carpenters
Goats,
sheep,
ducks, cows,
pigs,
chickens
None None None
POTUPO
Subsiter farmers
"upland" 90%
Chicken,
ducks,
goats, sheep
and cows
None 2 general market
28 Bussinesses
2%
TIENPO
Susamps 90% 2% goats +
sheet
None Petty to trading
10%
2% drums,
fishing, baskets,
mortals, etc.
WEBBO
Farming 95%
Different occupation
15%
Goats,
sheep,
ducks, cows,
pigs,
chickens,
dogs, cats
5% Sale of rubber
sale of cocoa
sale of cane juice
sale of palm oil
purchases sale of
trial goods
10%
Potery
Soap
making
Tye
dyeing
Black smithing
10%
CHEDEPO Subsistence farming
95%
Goats, sheep None 10% Petty
trading
2% Mining
access to basic social services: the assessment of the equipment level in the County indicates a
high number of water infrastructures, availability of primary schools to a lesser extent and some
rare health centres.
the water facilities listed in the County mainly consist in hand pumps (78) which supply 140
Towns with 70 000 people. In average, one pump supplies 2 Towns, that is, a population
slightly less than 1000 people.
health facilities: these are 17 in total and are made up of health centres and clinics. This
lack is more marked in the Districts of Tienpo and Gbepo with respectively one and two
health structures to be used by a total population of nearly 20 000 people each.
schools: 49primary schools and 3 secondary schools. The population/ number of schools
ration remains low: in average, each District has slightly more than seven primary schools,
which represents one school for more than 3 Towns.
District
name
Services
or
facilities
Description Location Number Water
supply
Sanitation
facilities F NF
GBEPO
WSF 42 pumps Gbeepo District 32 10
Health 1 Healt center
1 clinic
KaweaKen
Pronoken
1
1
School 1 Hight scholl
15 primary school
Gbeepo District 1
15
Commerce A regular market Kaweaken 1
SARBO
WSF Creeks
Rivers
Feld Hand Pumps
Sarbo
District
7
8
6
9
4
3
Health Health Center
3 Clinics
Sarbo Sulenlen
River Gbeh
Gbarro youber
Freedom
1
1
1
1
School 4 primary schools
5 primary school
4 primary school
Sarbo
Rivergbeh
Glarro
4
5
3
1
Commerce Provisional shops
Used clothers
Markets
Both
POTUPO
WSF Hand pump Fish Town
Jepenken
Konken
Gberguieh
21
1
2
1
0
3
1
1
Health Health Center
Clinic
Clinic
Fish Town
Jumpeo
Jepenken
1
1
1
1 hand
pump
1 hand
pump
1 hand
pump
2 latrines
None
None
School Secondary school
5 primary school
Fish Town
Fish Town
Jumpeo
Jepenken
Konken
Jaytoker
2
2
1
1
1
1
Commerce 2 general market
Provision shops,
video, clubs, drugs,
store, etc.
Fish Town
Jaytoker
Fish Town
1
1
28
TIENPO
WSF Hand dug pump Cherboken
Woloken
Jayturken
Gedeken
Sherriken
2
2
2
2
1
Health Health post Cherboken 1 None None
School 6 Primary school Cherboken
Daturken
Jayturken
Saywonken
Nyonken
Manyanken
1
1
1
1
1
1
None None
Commerce None
WEBBO
WSP 5 Creeks Deabo Chiefdom
Nyenels Chiefdom
Geeplaken
Kaibowaitiken
Cheyoken /Kitoken
Health 4 Clinics Abaweleken
Jimmyville
Nyaaken
Taryaken
1
1
1
1
School Secondary schools
5 primary schools
Kandoroken
Kandoroken
Nyaken
Suwloken
Wlegboken
Yarbeken
Nyenebo
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Commerce Market (weekly -
Saturday)
Gbaweleken 1
CHEDEPO
WSP Hand pumps + Water
system non functional
Hand pump
Jarkaken
Putuken
Geeken
Killepo Kanweaken
Klaboken
9
2
3
1
5
+1
1
1
1
Health 3 Clinics Jarkaken
Putuken
Killepo Kanweaken
1
1
1
School 3 Junior High
6 Primary schools
Jarkaken
Putuken
Killepo Kanweaken
Geeken
Klaboken
Cherboken
Seaboken
Torroken
B Jlawroken
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Commerce Market (weekly -
Saturday)
Market
Putuken
Killepo Kanweaken
1
1
poverty assessment: poverty itself is described as being deprived of essential needs -food, housing,
basic social services). This definition of poverty also includes the inability to meet one’s social
obligations. Generally, poverty is a combination of several and interrelated factors. All sample
households of the study are considered as poor although some slight distinctions exist are shown by
the graph below.
Type of household
55%
4 5%
Very poor Poor
Poverty is assessed through many criteria, including the type of houses. In this County, houses are
built with fragile materials, mainly earth (97% households), straw (2%) and wood (1%). This
understanding of poverty comes from respondents who gave their opinions on their precarious socio
economic conditions. Only 2% of the sample households believe they have an average economic
status while 57% say they are extremely poor.
26%
21%
18%
9%
25%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Blind Amputed Lower limb
injury
Spinal cord
injury
Other
Member of your family living with disability
This situation seriously hampers the ability to meet basic needs such has enrolling children at
schools, having access to services like safe water and adequate sanitation, health, etc. Households’
extreme poverty is worsened by the need to take care of some members of family living with
disability. 58% say that the disability in their families is average level while 42% households
responded that in their case, the disability is a marked/severe one.
7 % 2 %
0 %
3 %
16 %
0 %
9 %
2 %0 %
6 %
9 %
1%
2 4 %
9 %
0 %
7 %3 %
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
GBEP O SARBO P OTUP O TIENP O WEBBO CHEDEP O
Economic situation of the household
Very poor
Poor
Medium
Poverty assessment indicated that the District of Webbo has the largest number of poor people
(33%). This may be due to the fact that Webbo is a commercial centre attracting people who settle
without any mean to live on.
The poverty assessment reveals that disabled and people with HIV/AIDS are the poorest groups.
The disabled people are indeed excluded from the production process and the HIV AIDS people are
marginalised. The survey shows that in 3% of the sample households, there are people living with
HIV AIDS. These people do not have access to resources and this contributes to the degradation of
their social conditions.
Therefore, and as part of the poverty control in this County, it is necessary to develop programmes
targeting the vulnerable groups in order to promote local development which is consistent and
sustainable.
INSERT MAP ON EQUIPMENT
2-1-3 Major stakeholders at local level
Institutionally, the management of the County is relatively decentralised through the following
structure mandated by the Government:
a Superintendant to manage the administrative issues of the County with the support of
his/her assistant and commissioners of Districts and townships.
civil servants sent by their line ministries to the County and Districts.
elected staff including the Mayor, heads of the clan, Paramount chiefs and General town
chiefs. The post conflict situation and re structuring of the country did not allow for the
organisation of elections to replace or extend this staff.
Local associations: nor many associations are found in River Gee County and Districts like Webbo
and Tienpo do not have any. Organisations identified in the other Districts can be split into two
main categories:
organisations with a focus on social and economic issues: these include the development
committee of Sarbo, Brothers association in Potupo and the Youth association in Gbeapo.
They work for sustainable peace, security and poverty control in a broader sense.
management committees: these include only the supervision committee of pumps in
Chedepo in charge of pump repair and maintenance among others. Repair works are
possible with the funds collected with pump users.
District
Name
Cbos Location Date of
creation
Profile of
members
Domain of
intervention
Activities Partnership
GBEPO Gbeapo Youth association
Gpeapo *** Youth mixt Resolution conflict
None
SARBO Committee for
development
Sarbo
Woffiken
Clearn the
towns
None
POTUPO Brothers association
Potupo Men Development farm
None
TIENPO None
WEBBO None
CHEDEPO
Pump controlling
commettees
Chedepo *** Take good care of the pumps
Clearn around the pump
Repear the pump
None
partnerships: like with associations, the partnership network is also weak and includes:
German Agro Action (GAA): with a 5 year period of intervention GAA works in all six
Districts of the County. Its intervention areas range from hardware (construction of schools,
pumps, latrines and road rehabilitation) to support with agriculture equipment and materials.
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) works in education sector (school built in the District of
Potupo), safe water sector (pumps in the District of Potupo) and agriculture (provision of
production materials to farmers in the Districts of Potupo and Sarbo). The DRC intervention
period in this County is 5 years.
Liberia Agro System (LAS): LAS has a 2-year intervention period to work in a) agriculture
sector through provision of materials to farmers from the District of Potupo and b) education
through construction of school in the District de Gbeapo.
Gbeapo District has other partners working in various sectors:
o WATSAN, with Red Cross to build latrines and pumps for 3 years,
o Health with MECED which supported the construction of a health centre,
o Environment with REDES to construct bridges,
o Education with Diakona which built a school,
o food security with Catholic Relief Service (CRS).
District
name
Partners
(NGOs,
Projects …)
Domain of
intervention
Beneficiar
ies
Projects
realized
Community
contribution Location
Duration of
intervention
GBEPO
CRS Agriculture tool
Food supply Farmers Swamp farming
Work /apply
labour 2005-2009
Diakona School contribution Students School Digs and park rocks
6 months (2009)
GAA Road rehabilitation
Bridge population
Road
Bridge 2007-2009
REDES Bridges Population Road
bridge 2007-2009
MECED Medical supply Population Health center
6 months
LACE Construction of
school Students school
6 months
RED-CROSS Water and sanitation population Latrine and hand
pump 3 years
SARBO
GAA
Education
Agriculture
Water supply
Students
Farmers
population
School
Tools
Hand pumps
Work
5 years
Danish Refugee
Council (DRC) Agriculture Farmers Agricultural tools Work
5 years
POTUPO
Danish Refugee
Council (DRC)
Education
Agriculture Water supply
Students
Farmers population
School
Tools Hand pumps
Work
3 years
GAA
Education
Agriculture
Latrine
Students
Farmers
population
School
Tools
Pit latrines
Work
10 years
Liberia Agro
System (LAS) Agriculture Farmers Agricutural tools Work
2 years
TIENPO
GAA Road rehabilitation population Rehabilitation 9
miles of road Work
1 year
LACE Education Students One school Manpower Jagtunken 3 years
GAA Road rehabilitation population Rehabilitation
5miles of road Work
6 months
Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Water supply Population One hand pump Work
6 months
WEBBO German Agro
Action (GAA)
Education
Agriculture Water supply
Students
Farmers population
School
Tools Hand pumps
Work
5 years
CHEDEP
O
German Agro Action (GAA)
Education
Agriculture
Water supply
Students
Farmers
population
School
Tools
Hand pumps
Work
5 years
2-2 WATER, HYGIÈNE AND SANITATION ISSUE
The scoping study carried out in Liberia reveals that the water, hygiene and sanitation sector faces a
lot of challenges including the lack of a ministry or agency in charge of the sector and the
fragmented management of this sector at national level. On water, hygiene and sanitation issues,
there is no relationship between the national level, the County authorities and the Districts. The
In addition to their statutory mission of maintaining peace and ensuring stability and security of people and
their goods, the UN forces also support communities to improve their lives and environment through
hardware and fighting food insecurity.
situation is more acute as the sector management structures at the County level lack capacities and
means to fulfil their responsibilities. Sector policies are being developed and the labour ministry has
been identified to lead on the implementation of the PRS. Unlike the water and sanitation sector,
clear guidelines exist for the roads. Other relevant issues include equity and inclusion but also the
sustainability of water and sanitation facilities
2-2-1 Safe water
The access rate to water in the River Gee County is very low and according to the River Gee
County Development Agenda, in 2007, there were 58 functioning pumps supplying 50605 people.
This represents one pump for every 872 inhabitants. The June 2008 Census indicates that the
County numbers 67318 people, which corresponds to nearly 900 people for every single pump.
Compared to 2007, this ratio has fallen as a result of factors like the population growth and
insufficient number of water facilities constructed.
MAP OF THE WATER FACILITIES
The River Gee County Development Agenda states that the County access rate to safe water is
about 13%.
In Liberia, we note a low utilisation of safe water points which is the result of satisfactory
hydrological conditions. The survey findings reveal that households’ supply sources are made up of
hand dug wells, ponds rain water, rivers and streams among others. Unlike 18% households who
find it difficult to access to these sources, 82% of the sample households say that these sources are
easily accessible.
4%
13%14%
14%
22%
33%
2%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Ponds Traditional Rain water Unlined
hand dug
well
Rivers Streams Others
Primary source of water
Almost all the households have these water supply sources nearby houses – less than 50 m (half of
them are even less than 10m distant). But the dense forests and difficult topography of the area do
not make the travelling of people easy.
Distances Frequency
1 - 3m 24% Time taken Frequency
4 - 6m 24% 1-3h 93%
7 - 10m 13% 3-5h 3%
10 - 20m 7% 5-6h 0%
20-30m 8% Above 6h 4%
30-50m 14% TOTAL 100%
Above 50m 11%
TOTAL 100%
Water is used to meet both domestic and livestock needs. Sources depend on the type of use made
of the water. People use water from pumps close to them to meet their drinking purposes and this
brings about some households spending a lot of time before being supplied.
1% 1% 1%
9%
23%
45%
20%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Rain water Small town
water
system
(stand
pipes)
Protection
spring
Borehole
with hand
pump
Improved
hand dug
well with
rope and
bucket
Improved
hand dug
well with
hand pumps
Others
Improved water sources
People prefer wells fitted with pumps because these are in a greater number. On the other hand,
boreholes and other safe water supply sources are less numerous even though communities value
them as well. Also, functioning of these pumps is a challenge considering that 40 in the 117 pumps
are not working
In any case, the study shows that those supplied by the safe water points bring their financial
contributions for maintenance/repair of the water facilities. 27 sample households say they pay for
the water and no arrangement is made in favour of people with disability. Meanwhile, their
contribution to build/repair the facilities can be in cash or kind.
The study reveals the presence of a committee to manage the safe water points. 63% people
interviewed believe that this committee which also comprises disabled people fulfils its mandate of
managing water points even if pump breakdowns are recurrent as indicate the tables below.
How long Frequency
How often Frequency Within a week 19%
Weekly 12% Up to a month 27%
Monthly 39% More than three months 17%
Yearly 35% More than six months 16%
Other 14% Never 6%
TOTAL 100% Other 16%
TOTAL 100%
Recurrent break downs which sometimes can last more than 6 months do not facilitate satisfactory
water supply of River Gee County communities. This situation encourages more the communities to
using the many unsafe sources which do not require any financial contribution.
2-2-2 Access to sanitation infrastructures
With 14%, the latrine coverage in River Gee County is obviously low. According to the River Gee
County Development Agenda, in year 2007, the ratio was one latrine for every 8434 people. In the
districts of Webbo, Sarbo, Potupo and Tienpo, no latrine was identified during the survey. This
represents 4 in the 6 districts of the River Gee County. But some improvements were seen with the
support of development partners. Indeed, the research shows that 41% households have their own
latrines which are used by 47% of them less than two years ago. The latrines are overused as only
18% households have these facilities utilised by less than 10 people. This situation leads 3% of the
sample to practice open air defecation. Both healthy and disabled people use latrines when available
in their households. The under five children use pots or resort to open air defecation practice.
Type of latrine Frequence What sort of subsidy Frequence
Improved latrine 20% Cash 5%
Ventilated improved 58% Labour 44%
Pour flush 20% Materials 10%
Water system 1% Other 41%
TOTAL 100% TOTAL 100%
The majority of latrines are either ventilated or improved and 45% of the sample households have
acquired these facilities through the support of development partners. The support provided was
technical and in kind even though 5% of the sample households said their latrines have been
subsidised.
20%
50%
9%4% 3%
0%14%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
2,000-5,000 6,000-10,000 11,000-
15,000
16,000-
20,000
21,000-
25,000
26,000-
30,000
Above
30,000
How much did it cost to build the latrine
55% households said they paid for the construction of their latrines and the cost range from 2000 to
35000 Liberian dollars.
2-2-3 Linkages between water, hygiene and sanitation
In general, hygiene conditions are dependent upon the quality of water used in the households but
also on the behaviours of people regarding the hygiene practices. Our analysis will therefore focus
on the uses of water and the households’ practices on hygiene and sanitation.
In the County, many practices and behaviours (on hygiene and water supply) have been identified
which affect people’s health. For instance, latrines in half of the households we visited are cleaned
once a week and even monthly. As users of these latrines are many, these attitudes can bring the
spread of diseases like diarrhoea. Also, the lack of safe water points in many Towns of the County
compels a lot of people to using unsafe sources including rivers, ponds and streams and this causes
water related diseases such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid, etc.
Furthermore, low sanitation coverage, predominance of traditional latrines and the use of defecation
areas which fail to meet hygiene standards (90% of respondents say that children resort to open air
defecation) contribute to degradation of environment and people’s health conditions in this County.
0% 1%3%
6%
31%
59%
0,4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Peer
promotion
Television Newspaper School Radio Volunter
hygiene
promoters
Other
Where did you receive these messages
To address this situation, there is an urgent need to significantly increase the water and sanitation
infrastructures in the County. Sensitisation campaigns on hygiene practices also need to be
strengthened considering that 87% respondents said they have been sensitised/trained on hygiene
promotion.
How often do you wash your hands Fréquence How do you wash your hands Fréquence
After using the latrine 15% Using water only 10%
After eating 15% Using soap/ash and water 82%
Before eating 19% Using sand/soil and water 1%
Before feeding o child 14% Other 8%
After cleaning up a child who defecated 14% TOTAL 100%
After doing any household chore 9% Can you wash your hands unaided Fréquence
After visiting the hospital 7% Yes 88%
Other 8% No 12%
TOTAL 100% TOTAL 100%
These training/sensitisation sessions have had a positive impact on the behaviour of 83%
households regarding hand washing. 83% households use containers which have lids to carry
their water. Lids used are mostly in plastic matter (75%), aluminium 4%, wood, etc. Though a
household may use water from ponds, rivers or streams but 15% have separate containers for
safe water and for water collected from unsafe sources.
Inappropriate practices prevail when it comes to water collection and use, but also in terms of
use of sanitation infrastructures and applying hygiene rules. This accounts for the prevalence of
diarrhoea disease of the under five. Diarrhoea is experienced by 84% households since 10% of
these said that their children faced at least 6 bouts of diarrhoea over a three month period. In the
same period, 11% households recorded 4 to 6 diarrhoea bouts, 79% experienced diarrhoea
between 1 to 3 times.
52% households send their people suffering from diarrhoea to health centres while respectively
15% and 11% households use re hydration and self treatment.
Failure to comply with hygiene rules causes degradation of environment and the spread of
diseases including malaria, diarrhoea, etc. The County authorities must therefore build sanitation
infrastructures, organise sensitisation campaigns aimed at drawing communities’ attention on the
need to apply hygiene practices and rules.
2-3 SUMMARY OF THE ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
With a surface area of 5627 sq, River Gee is in the South of Liberia between Maryland in the South,
Grand Gedeh in the North and Sinoe County in the West. It is limited in the East by Ivory Coast.
River Gee County has six Districts including 140 Towns and a population of approximately 67 318
people. The population density is 34 people per sq. The County population is unevenly distributed.
Indeed, three in the six districts are heavily populated. This situation brings about challenges in the
access to basic social services mainly with the scattered or linear housing system.
Economy wise, the primary sector activities, that is, agriculture, fishing and livestock breeding are
not well developed. This situation is not only due to the natural resource potential which enable the
development of hunting, food gathering and mining but also to the fact that communities are poor
and cannot afford the equipment required for agro pastoral activities.
Generally, poverty is a combination of several and interrelated factors, including access to basic
social services. Yet, the survey reveals a low access rate of the County people to these services. To
improve this situation, there are many development partners working in the County
Also, the assessment shows a lack of organisation of community members. As this compromises the
sustainability of facilities, it is necessary to revive the social dynamics without which, the
functionality of basic social services will be affected as well as the access rate to the water and
sanitation infrastructures. The result of all this is the occurrence of bad hygiene practices which
breed water related diseases.
The assessment brought out the following strengths of the County:
rich land with abundant gold and diamond
a dense forest,
water resources including rivers and streams, etc
The above assets are complemented by other real strengths including among others, the presence of
farmers and mining people to promote local economy. But development goes through improved
living conditions which are still characterised by:
lack of means of communication and transport,
lack of electricity and bad state if roads,
inadequate sanitation and prevalence of unsafe water ,
the limited number of public infrastructures on health and education,
laziness of some people,
division/disunity, lack of communication and cooperation
III- STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS
The County water and sanitation plan is a long term strategic planning document including priority
activities which are clearly set by communities and aimed at improving the access to safe water and
sanitation infrastructures and hygiene promotion. This plan is therefore a reference document in the
hand of development partners to implement their action plans in the relevant sectors.
3-1 KEY DÉVELOPMENT AREAS
The assessment carried out has helped in identifying some actions deemed necessary to improve the
access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation infrastructures. These actions are translated into three
major strategic areas:
promote access to safe water sources;
improve access to private and public sanitation infrastructures;
sensitise and train community members.
The above orientations are inter-related and their implementation will make it possible to achieve
the objectives set by the County regarding improved living conditions of its people
3-1-1 Priority areas for improved access to WATSAN infrastructures
The River Gee County faces many constraints, mainly in terms of inadequate access to water,
hygiene and sanitation facilities. To remove such constraints and promote the socio-economic
development of the County, local stakeholders have identified priority actions. Three main strategic
priorities are identified in relation to the access to safe water and sanitation:
improving access to safe water,
improving access to sanitation infrastructures and hygiene promotion,
strong democracy at local level and promote group/collective activities.
These strategic orientations are interdependent and their implementation will enable an integrated
development, as stated in objective 7 of the MDGs which reads “without hygiene and sanitation
facilities, safe water is less conducive to good health”
3-1-2 Challenges in carrying out development priorities:
River Gee County faces a number of challenges including:
WATER
limited number of safe water points in the County;
lack of safe water points in many Towns of the Districts of the County;
low functionality level of pumps, mainly in the Districts of Sarbo, Chedepo and Gbépo;
the distance and difficult access to most safe water sources
HYGIENE/SANITATION
low latrine coverage;
limited number of the public latrines;
prevalence of bad hygiene practices and behaviours
DIVISION AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION
marked individualism;
lack of local initiatives for development;
low understanding of the place and importance of safe water and sanitation infrastructures
3-2 ACTIONS AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION STRATÉGIES
Actions needed: the various strategic objectives identified by communities during the participatory
assessment have been translated into development actions.
activities related to water:
build appropriate pumps,
encourage partners to invest in the country, mainly in the water and sanitation sector,
ask national authorities to prioritise the water and sanitation sector in the political vision.
activities related to hygiene/sanitation:
encourage and support construction of household latrines,
sensitise people on how to use latrines,
sensitise people for behaviour change on hygiene and sanitation
activities related to good governance:
strengthen collective activities,
Promote local development,
encourage partners to invest in the country
promote local initiatives.
Implementation strategies: implementation of the plan perfectly fits with the desire and will for
the country reconstruction and promotion of peace which necessarily goes through social cohesion
and unity of people but also building their capacity. That is why resource persons from the County
decided to focus the orientation on the following:
effectively involve communities in the implementation of local development projects
train and sensitise people on effective and efficient management of public projects,
Promote social cohesion and implement development strategies drawing from local
initiatives,
Promote local development structures which can design appropriate development projects,
organise and facilitate meetings aimed at strengthening social cohesion and develop
implementation strategies of such projects,
Promote dialogue, radio and TV messages as well as sensitisation sessions.
The implementation will focus on the creation and strengthening of active and transparent
partnerships enabling all local players to help achieve the objectives set in the plan. Also, the
County populations will be organised to request support from development partners. Effective
partnerships mechanisms should enable strengthening of structures gathering various socio
professional groups of the County. To this effect, making strategies for sustainable development
available through development partners -NGOs, projects/programmes with a focus on local
communities will provide consultation frameworks for the human and financial resources needed to
implement the plan. Finally, partnership should be developed with the key stakeholders comprising,
local people and other players in charge of organising or funding activities of the former.
District
name
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Actions to be undertaken Implementing strategies
GBEPO
1°)Farming
2°) Mining
3°) Business
1) Lack of good network
2) Lack of communication
3) Limited health services
4) Poor sanitation
1) Forest
2) Rivers
3) Schools
4) Health
1) We need Unity
2) Organized self-help projects
3) Seeking support from donor
for adequate water supply
1) Total involvement of
communities members in
projects
2) Training of manpower to
manage public projects
SARBO
1) School
2) Health
3) Shop
4) Market
1) Transportation
2) Lack of communications
1) Creeks
2) Forest
3) River
1) To work in groups
2) Unity
1) Medical care
2) Feeding
3) Labor cost
POTUPO
1) Forest
2) Rivers
3) Health facilities
4) Gold mining
1) Disunity
2) Inacessibility of roads
3) Electricity
4) Low employment
opportunity
5) Unstandoydize school
system
6) Unsafe drinking water and
lack of latrines
1) Forest
2) Food
production
3) Mineral
resources (gold,
diamond, etc.)
1 Coming together in unity
2) Undertake development
initiative
3) Encourage international
partners and investors in the
employment of our citizens
4) Establish standardize
supervisory school system
1) Coming together as a group
to strategize in implementing
development initiative
2) Establish development
committee to identify needed
projects, hold meetings and
strategize how to undertake
these projects
TIENPO
1) Human resource
2) We are hard working
3) We are united or
together
4) We have a rich soil
5) We have natural
resources
1) Inaccessibility / land lack
2) No road or farm to market
road
3) Mass unemployment
4) Lack of education facilities
5) Lack of health facilities
1) Availability
2) Manpower
(large population)
3) Potential
(ability and
capability to
work)
1) Appealing to NGO's
2) Appealing to national
government
3) Community initiatives
1 Dialogue
2) Radio drama
3) Workshop
WEBBO
1) Forest
2) Rivers
3) Hospital
4) Market building
5) School building
1) Inaccessibility
2) Unwillingness to work
3) Lack of communication
4) Lack of cooperation
5) Lack of farming
implements
1) Rivers
2) Sand
3) Skilled
manpower
4) Schools
5) Minerals
1) Economies empowerment
2) Follow-up actions
3) Sensitizations
1) Vocational training
2) Micro credit
3) To be unified
4) Investment opportunities
5) Willingness to work
together
CHEDEPO
1) Human resource
2) Hard working
3) Unity /Togetherness
4) Soil
5) Resources
1) Availability
2) Potential
3) Manpower
1) Farm to market
road
2) Unemployment
3) Inaccessibility
4) Lack of
education facility
1) Appealing to NGO's /
International NGO for projects
2) Appealing to government for
projects
3) Community initiatives
1) Workshop
2) Dialogue /sensitization
3) Radio drama