United Youth and WaterAid Liberia Engage Lawmakers on WASH Financing
- technicalunitedyou
- Oct 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Consultative Meeting with Hon. P. Mark Jurry, Representative District #1, Maryland County, and Chair of Ways and Means and Finance Committee, House of Representatives
Capitol Building, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, August 17, 2024
As part of ongoing efforts to advance sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) financing in Liberia, United Youth and WaterAid Liberia held a one-hour consultative meeting with Hon. P. Mark Jurry, Representative of District #1, Maryland County, at his Capitol Building office in Monrovia.
The meeting brought together key members of the National Legislature, including:
The objective was to share updates on current WASH interventions, present Liberia’s first WASH Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), and advocate for increased budgetary allocation to the WASH sector.
Meeting Objectives
Present an overview of WaterAid Liberia and United Youth
Share updates on current WASH interventions
Present the Cost-Benefit Analysis Report on WASH in Liberia
Highlight the financial returns of investing in the WASH sector
Opening Remarks
In his welcome statement, Hon. P. Mark Jurry expressed gratitude to Hon. Chuchu Selma, Country Director of WaterAid Liberia, for organizing the meeting. He commended both WaterAid and United Youth for their leadership in the WASH sector and encouraged a fruitful and strategic discussion to strengthen collaboration between civil society and lawmakers.
Key Achievements and Presentations
Mr. Piaus Abdulah, Fundraising Manager of WaterAid Liberia, presented an overview of the organization’s work. Since 2009, WaterAid has worked with civil society partners to expand WASH services to underserved communities in counties such as Grand Kru, River Gee, and Grand Cape Mount. Currently, WaterAid Liberia is providing full WASH coverage in rural Montserrado’s Todee District over the next five years.
Mr. Zayzay Kolubah highlighted major policy and advocacy milestones, including the establishment of the WASH Legislative Caucus at the National Legislature in collaboration with United Youth. This caucus provides leadership and oversight to ensure accountability and financing for WASH services nationwide.
Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Highlights
Mr. Kolubah also presented Liberia’s first-ever Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) focused exclusively on WASH across healthcare facilities, schools, and communities. The findings reveal critical data gaps and demonstrate the economic value of WASH investments:
Less than 1 in 4 Liberians have basic toilets at home.
Fewer than 4 in 10 have access to safe water at home.
Only about half of schools and non-hospital health centers have basic water access.
Inadequate WASH cost Liberia an estimated US$231 million in 2023, equivalent to US$44 per person or 5.3% of GDP.
With basic WASH services, up to US$171 million in losses could be prevented annually between 2024–2030, yielding a return on investment of 2.7× nationwide and up to 4× in urban areas.
The CBA provides robust evidence to inform policy, investment, and legislative action, and was formally presented to Hon. Jurry for onward review and discussion with colleagues at the Legislature.
Official Response
Hon. P. Mark Jurry praised Liberians and civil society organizations for taking the lead in finding solutions to WASH challenges.
“Water is life, and it is time that WaterAid and civil society work with the government to scale up education on sanitation, water management, and environmental protection,” he stated.
He noted that climate change is affecting water availability, impacting production, healthcare, and national development. Hon. Jurry revealed plans by the Government of Liberia to construct mini water systems in all county capitals, beginning with Pleebo (Maryland), River Gee, Sinoe, and Grand Gedeh Counties, with an initial investment of US$400,000 to launch the initiative.
He concluded by pledging to work with his legislative colleagues to increase support for the WASH sector in the 2026 national budget, emphasizing that sustained financing is crucial to achieving universal WASH access.
Looking Ahead
The engagement with Hon. Jurry represents a significant step in building strong legislative partnerships to secure funding and accountability for Liberia’s WASH sector. By aligning evidence-based advocacy with political commitment, WaterAid Liberia and United Youth aim to drive investments that will transform health, education, and livelihoods nationwide.
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