Abdu Muwonge, World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone, emphasized that the project will address the country’s urgent water security and sanitation challenges by upgrading infrastructure, strengthening institutions, and fostering community engagement. Sierra Leone’s water and sanitation sector faces significant obstacles, including economic water scarcity, limited infrastructure, poor governance, and inefficient service delivery. Only 63% of the population has basic water access, while just 23% have improved drinking water on premises. Sanitation access remains critically low, with only 32% having safely managed or basic sanitation, and 12% having access to basic hygiene facilities. Xavier Chauvot De Beauchene, World Bank Lead Water Specialist, noted that this ten-year partnership represents a strategic approach to addressing Sierra Leone’s water and sanitation challenges.