By Mohammmed Ahmed
The European Union funded Technical Assistance to CSOs (EU-TAC) project, has strengthen capacities of 25 civil organisations to drive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), water governance in Plateau state,
Mrs Oluseyi Abdulmalik, WaterAid Nigeria Communications and Media Manager stated this in a statement on the occasion to mark the end of the project in Jos, weekend.
According to him, “The EU-TAC project, which is now coming to a close, was launched in 2018 to execute the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme III (WSSSRP III) in Plateau State.
“In a bid to improve governance of the sector and provide improved services in urban and small towns of the state.
“The project is part of the overall European Union support of over €260 million to reach more than 10 million people with improved access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in 14 states of Nigeria.
“The project had the specific objective of improving the capacity of civil societies in the state, and in Riyom and Shendam local government areas,” the statement reads.
It added that the project is aimed at advocating for better governance in the water and sanitation sector and to act as a potential driver for good governance in the broader context of the public sector service delivery.
It explained that after the completion of the EU-TAC project in the state, the 25 CSOs are now better positioned to support all citizens, including women and people with disabilities.
“To demand their rights to clean water and safe sanitation, and to ensure that citizens are heard in decision-making platforms within the sector,” it further reads.
Abdulmalik said the benefiting CSOs were trained in budget advocacy/policy analysis, human rights-based approach to water and sanitation governance,
“Fundraising, gender mainstreaming, case study gathering and project monitoring and evaluation, which enhanced their capacity to engage the WASH institutions in the state, were taught.
The statement reiterated that a notable achievement of their engagements with the state government, was the development of the State Water Sector Bill, passed into law, following high-level advocacy engagements by the CSOs.
“Engagements with the CSOs also led to the implementation of the Plateau State Water and Sanitation Policy and a Gender Audit in the Ministry of Water Resources.
“Continued engagements have also led to the prioritisation of water and sanitation by duty bearers; with budgetary allocations to water, sanitation and hygiene sector increasing from N4.9 billion naira in 2019 to N15.57 billion in 2020,” it said.
