United Youth Hosts Community WASH Committee Workplan Review and Validation Session, Strengthening Community Ownership and Sustainable Management of Biodigester Toilets

Strengthening Community Ownership and Sustainable Management of Biodigester Toilets

Governor’s Office, Borough of New Kru Town, Monrovia. September 18, 2025

As part of its continued advocacy for sustainable urban sanitation, United Youth convened a Community WASH Committee Workplan Review and Validation Session with community leaders, WASH stakeholders, and local authorities. The session aimed to enhance accountability, transparency, and sustainable management of biodigester toilets in WESSEX project communities across Greater Monrovia.

Session Objectives

The workplan review and validation meeting sought to:

·       Promote accountability and transparency by making WASH committees’ plans visible to the communities they serve.

·       Identify and address operational challenges through collective brainstorming to improve maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities.

The session brought together 30 participants representing:

·       TWG members (specifically MCC)

·       Office of the Governor, Borough of New Kru Town

·       Community leaders from St. Kizito, 72nd, Bong Mines Bridge, Karpeh Street, and Central New Town

·       Community WASH Committee members, PMCs, and CBEs from the above communities

Opening Remarks

Mr. Dekontee Woto, Vice Governor for Operations, Borough of New Kru Town, and former Chairman of Karpeh Street community, welcomed participants and urged collective action on sanitation issues. He emphasized the importance of community collaboration to drive growth and development across Monrovia’s communities.

Meeting Overview

Mr. Timothy Kpeh, National Executive Director of United Youth, outlined the purpose of the session:

“This meeting is meant to review and validate community WASH committees’ workplans to ensure sustainability, ownership, transparency, and proper management of WASH facilities in WESSEX communities,” he stated.

He highlighted the need for joint implementation of planned activities and stronger partnerships between community leadership and WASH committees to sustain donor-funded projects and enhance local development.

Key Thematic Discussions

Facility Cleaning and Maintenance

Participants agreed on joint efforts among Community-Based Enterprises (CBEs), Project Management Committees (PMCs), and community leadership to ensure regular facility cleaning and maintenance.

Hygiene Promotion & CBEs

Community representatives supported the establishment of community-owned CBEs to go beyond cleaning toilets and promote hygiene and community cleanliness, with government involvement to enforce rules and regulations. While CBEs exist in New Kru Town, participants noted that additional support is needed to sustain operations.

Establishing Community-Based Enterprises

Mr. Charles Orca (TWG Member, MCC) explained the process for establishing and upgrading CBEs:

·     Securing an office space

·     Official registration (minimum LRD $10,000)

·       Procuring equipment such as tricycles and other materials for waste collection

·    This structure aims to build formal, sustainable sanitation enterprises within communities.

Additional Developments

Participants identified key actions to strengthen community sanitation systems:

·       Capacity building: Train 1–2 individuals from WESSEX communities in biodigester installation and management to reduce dependence on external contractors.

·       Legal frameworks: Enact community laws on solid waste disposal to give CBEs authority and relevance.

·       Awareness campaigns: Intensify education on facility cleaning, maintenance, and user fee payments for households, religious institutions, schools, and businesses to ensure sustainable operations.

Key Recommendations

·       Provide logistical and equipment support to existing CBEs for effective operation.

·       Enact and enforce community laws on solid waste disposal to strengthen CBEs.

·       Increase awareness and sensitization on user fees, facility maintenance, and sanitation responsibilities to ensure facility functionality and community income generation.

Endorsement and Launch of the Workplan

The session concluded with the official endorsement and launch of the community WASH committee workplan. Mr. Dekontee Woto, Vice Governor for Operations, and Mr. Nelson Sekeh, Vice Governor for Administration, endorsed the document with approval from Hon. Robert Teah, Governor of the Borough of New Kru Town. They pledged their full commitment to work with community leaders and WASH committees to improve sanitation in Greater Monrovia.

Building Community-Led Sanitation Systems

This review and validation session marks an important step toward community-led sanitation governance. By strengthening WASH committee plans, empowering CBEs, and ensuring accountability, communities in New Kru Town are laying the foundation for sustainable management of biodigester toilets and improved hygiene for all.

This activity is a part of the WaterAid/Wessex Urban WASH Governance project with the objectives to:

1.      Improve governance through advocacy for standardization and replication of models.

2.      Increase knowledge through awareness of and advocacy to support households in adopting biodigester technology.

👉 Learn more about United Youth’s WASH initiatives: Visit our blog