Africa-Press – Liberia. For thousands of residents in Montserrado and Margibi counties, however, the real measure of success will not be in signing ceremonies, but in whether clean, reliable water actually flows again in their communities.
SINKOR– The Government of Liberia, through the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Commission, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with World Hope International (WHI) to take over the stalled Improved Access to Safe Drinking Water in Liberia Project.
The project, originally funded by USAID and implemented by Winrock International, came to a halt earlier this year after Washington pulled out of several flagship WASH programs in Liberia. Among them were the $17.9 million Improved Access to Safe Drinking Water Activity, the Countrywide Sanitation Activity (CWSA), and WASH-FIN 2. Collectively, those initiatives carried a price tag of more than $150 million and were expected to strengthen sanitation governance, expand access to safe drinking water, and build financial sustainability for the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC).
The sudden withdrawal left critical water systems unfinished, sanitation campaigns stalled, and thousands of communities uncertain about when services would resume.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Monrovia, WASH Commission CEO George W.K. Yarngo said the new agreement with WHI represents “a concrete step toward advancing safe water supply systems.”
“The sudden closure of these programs left many initiatives incomplete and communities uncertain,” Yarngo said. “Today’s agreement with World Hope International is a message of resilience, continuity, and renewed hope for safe water and sanitation for our people.”
Under the new arrangement, WHI will focus on resuming projects in Dolo, Sarah Johnson, Baypolu, and Yarnwuellie communities across Montserrado and Margibi Counties. The project, valued at US$447,440, is expected to benefit more than 40,000 residents.
WHI’s Global Director for GIK, Richeleau A. Nance, pledged to complete the work.
“We recognize the foundational work already done and the complexities of taking over an incomplete project,” Nance said. “Our focus is collaboration, transparency, and accountability to ensure sustainable water systems that Liberians can own and maintain for generations.”
World Hope International is a global Christian relief and development organization working in over 20 countries, with programs in clean water, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment. In Liberia, WHI has been involved in WASH projects for years, including the construction of the water system in the 540 Community, Congo Town, and solar-powered water supply interventions.
While the agreement has been hailed as a lifeline for affected communities, questions remain about whether WHI has the resources and institutional reach to succeed where USAID-backed programs faltered. Unlike USAID, which injected millions of dollars into Liberia’s water sector, WHI’s takeover represents a much smaller budget of less than half a million dollars.
Analysts say sustaining large-scale water systems, especially in rural areas, requires a major capital, long-term technical expertise, and governance reforms within LWSC — challenges that persist despite years of donor investment.
For now, the WASH Commission says it is also negotiating with the Sato Consortium to revive sanitation work and retooling the lessons from WASH-FIN 2 into “bankable projects” aimed at attracting private investment.
For thousands of residents in Montserrado and Margibi counties, however, the real measure of success will not be in signing ceremonies, but in whether clean, reliable water actually flows again in their communities.
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