Strengthening Coordination to Accelerate the Delivery of WASH Services in Western Kenya Counties

Strong, clear multisectoral coordination structures at the county level are critical for enhanced partnership and cooperation between the key government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and organized community groups to reduce duplication of work, strengthen accountability, and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and water resources management (WRM) interventions.

USAID’s Western Kenya Water Project (WKWP) has worked in collaboration with the county departments of water and other WASH actors in eight counties in western Kenya to initiate a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen coordination towards improved WASH priorities. Key achievements include:  

• Reactivating WASH networks that were inactive in seven counties (Homabay, Busia, Bungoma, Migori, Kakamega, Siaya, and Kisumu); 
• Establishing the Kisii multisectoral WASH forum; and 
• Developing WASH/WRM Terms of References (ToRs) that support sectoral thematic working groups to ensure that they are inclusive, coordinated, and sustainable. 

The WASH forums also provided opportunities for the identification of synergies and areas for collaboration among WASH actors which has avoided duplication of efforts and re-inventing of the wheel. Jointly with other stakeholders, WKWP will continue to explore avenues and best practices to enhance ownership and sustainability.

Related Resources:

• Video: Western Kenya Water Project Milestones 2023