Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has formally commissioned the construction of 25 Water Kiosks in Freetown under a project implemented in partnership with United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The project is funded by the United Nations Secretary-Generals Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF) and is being implemented in Aberdeen Crab Town, Dworzak, Lumley, Mayinkineh, and Rokupa,
Through a community-led approach, the W4WP project is empowering young women from the communities to become agents of change through supporting the construction and management of twenty-five (25) water kiosks with solar-powered purification systems.
The water kiosks will provide accessible, clean water for the first time to many of Freetowns most vulnerable communities in a conflict-sensitive manner. Young women will be empowered to operate the kiosks as businesses and become agents of change and peace.
Since we launched the project, we have been actively working with our partners FCC, ILO, ILRAJ and FEDURP to identify and address all the various water-related conflict drivers in the target communities, noted Mohammad Al-Batayneh, UNCDF Country Lead.
In partnership with the Mayor and FCC, our engagements have been designed to facilitate community-led interventions that will empower women to create safe spaces for equitable access to water and reduce water-related conflict, including sexual and gender-based violence arising from water scarcity, Mohammad adds.
We have enjoyed a great partnership with UNCDF over the last few years starting with the Freetown Blue Peace Initiative launched in 2020. Over the next few months, UNCDF will construct an initial 25 water kiosks in 5 communities across Freetown in line with the commitments of the Women for Water and Peace Project.
Following this first phase, a further 40 water kiosks and 15 public toilets will be constructed across Freetown, under the FCC & UNCDF Blue Peace project, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr explains.
I would like to thank our city councillors and community stakeholders who have been very supportive in this delivery. Most of the lands where the facilities are constructed are privately owned but voluntarily offered up for the kiosks to be constructed Mayor Aki-Sawyerr stated. Our partners, UNCDF, ILO ILRAJ, FEDURP, WANEP, SLLC and SLEF have all been incredibly committed during this delivery. We are grateful for their contributions to this cause to address conflict and improve access to water in Freetown, she concludes.
