The Liberia Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Committee on Water Sanitation, Hygiene and Climate Change has appealed to President George Manneh Weah to sign the Open Defecation Free (ODF) roadmap before November 19, 2021 to encourage donors and international partners to increase support to the sector.
According to CSOs press statement, the signing of the ODF roadmap by President Weah will demonstrate that the government of Liberia commitment and enable CSOs to work with the government and citizens to ensure the full implications of the ODF road map.
The release noted that the Government of Liberia is planning to celebrate this year’s World Toilet Day by launching the Open Defecation Free(ODF) roadmap, which was developed since two years ago. The release further noted that the ODF roadmap is intended to guide all actors within the wash sector in improving access to sanitation for all Liberians by 2025.
“It is disheartening to note that ODF roadmap has been on the desk of the President of the Republic for the past two years (2019 to date) just to get his signature. All development partners and donors are awaiting the President’s signature to support the implementation of roadmap,” the release stated.
The release continued that the government has raised over US$70,000 from international partners towards this year’s World Toilet Day event, which include the launch of the document.
“World Toilet Day is celebrated to inspire actions to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve sustainable development goal 6 (SDG 6), which promises sanitation for all by 2030.
“November 19 of every year is observed as World Toilet Day. This day is an official United Nations international observance day worldwide, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis,” the CSOs press statement asserted.