By Politico Staff Writer
Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has formally commissioned the construction of 25 Water Kiosks in Freetown under a project implemented in partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The project funded by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peace Building Fund (UN PBF) is being implemented in Aberdeen Crab Town, Dwarzack, Lumley, Mayenkineh, and Rokupa.
A press release issued on the 26th March 2024 noted that through a community-led approach, the Women for Water and Peace (W4WP) project is empowering young women from the communities to become agents of change by supporting the construction and management of the 25 water kiosks with solar-powered purification systems.
It explained that the water kiosks will provide accessible, clean water for the first time to “many of Freetown’s most vulnerable communities. Young women will be empowered to operate the kiosks as businesses and become agents of change and peace.”
UNCDF Country Lead, Mohammad Al-Batayneh stated in the release that since they launched the project, they have been actively working with their partners –Freetown City Council (FCC), International Labour Organization (ILO), Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) and Federation of the Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP) to identify and address all the various water-related conflict drivers in the target communities.
“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,” he said.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr explained that they have enjoyed a great partnership with UNCDF over the last few years starting with the Freetown Blue Peace Initiative launched in 2020. She said that 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 W4WP Project.
She further noted that 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.
“I would like to thank our city councilors 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,” she stated.
She was grateful for the contributions of their partners in addressing conflicts and improving access to water in Freetown.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (28/03/24)
