Sectors and Areas of Specialization

• WASH and Environment
  • Basic sanitation
  • Hygiene
  • Natural resources, environmental pollution and climate action
  • Water

Interventions

• UNICEF’s WASH programme addresses the challenges through three interlinked interventions:
  • Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM): Dignity and Opportunity for Women and Girls In many rural areas, menstruation is surrounded by misinformation, stigma, and silence. Many girls and women lack access to sanitary products, forcing them to use unsafe alternatives such as rags or leaves, which pose health risks and impact their confidence, mobility, and participation in school or work. To tackle this, menstrual hygiene education will be integrated into schools and communities. Local seamstresses will be trained to produce reusable sanitary pads, and open, stigma-free discussions will be promoted. Schools will be supported to provide girl-friendly WASH facilities and access to sanitary products. Through ADAP platforms, adolescent girls will build confidence and peer support networks, while parenting programs will engage caregivers to create supportive home environments. This comprehensive approach will boost school attendance, dignity, and gender equality.
  • Operation and Maintenance of Climate-Resilient WASH Facilities: Sustaining Progress Despite significant investments in climate-resilient WASH systems, such as solar-powered water supply, gravity-fed systems, and handpumps, many facilities in Sierra Leone have deteriorated due to poor post-construction support. UNICEF and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation have developed the Community Level Operation and Maintenance (CLOM) strategy to improve sustainability. The project will train local pump technicians, establish spare parts supply chains, use real-time monitoring tools like mWater, and strengthen local government oversight. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) such as Pump Technician Associations will be formalized to increase accountability. Women and youth will actively participate in WASH committees, ensuring inclusive and sustainable services.
  • Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR): Climate-related disasters such as flooding and coastal erosion disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in Sierra Leone, disrupting WASH, education, and health services. Coastal districts like Bonthe, Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, and Pujehun face heightened risks due to sea-level rise and food insecurity. To strengthen resilience, the project will implement localized Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies in 17 fishing communities. Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs) will be established to develop inclusive response plans, with targeted training and representation for women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Geographic Focus

• Sierra Leone
  • Southern
  • North Western

Expected Results

• Package 1: Promoting Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Among Adolescent Girls and Women in Pujehun (Kpanga, Makpele Chiefdoms), Port Loko (Bailor, Masilmani), Moyamba (Shenge, Parti, Tissana Wharf/Point, Katta, Plantain Island), Bonthe (Mbokie, Saama, Mania, Hangisite, York).
  • The project adopts a Chiefdom-wide approach inspired by UNICEF’s Sanitation and Hygiene interventions, ensuring comprehensive menstrual hygiene management (MHM) across communities, schools, and peripheral health units (PHUs). It includes educating girls, women, and communities on menstrual health through workshops and promoting reusable sanitary pads. Training programs for local seamstresses will enable the production of reusable pads, fostering economic development.
    • Result# 1: MHM Package in Iceland-funded communities: Bailor and Masilmani in Portloko, Shenge, Parti, Tissana Wharf, Tissana Point, Katta, Plantain Island in Moyamba.
    • Result# 2: MHM & CLTS Package Including Community Management (Mbokie, Saama, Mania, Hangisite and York)
• Package 2: Ensuring the sustainability of climate-resilient WASH infrastructure in in Moyamba and Bonthe District.
  • Following the successful installation of climate-resilient WASH infrastructure including gravity-fed systems, solar-powered water supplies, and handpumps in selected communities in Moyamba and Bonthe Districts, this project aims to ensure long-term functionality, sustainability, and community ownership of these systems.
  • Key Activities 
    • Community-Based Technician Selection & Deployment
      • Identify local technicians based on residency, skill, and community endorsement.
      • Deploy 2–3 pump technicians per chiefdom based on population and area size.
    • Capacity Building for WASH Actors
      • Train pump technicians, district engineers, and retailers on the maintenance of handpumps, piped systems, and solar-powered facilities.
      • Upgrade and formalize Pump Technician Associations as registered Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
      • Build business and technical skills of technicians’ associations to improve service delivery and visibility.
    • Real-Time Functionality Monitoring
      • Introduce mWater for real-time functionality tracking and explore integration into national WASHIMS systems.
    • Sustainable Spare Parts Supply Chain
      • Identify local suppliers to establish reliable spare part outlets in partnership with local suppliers and retailers.
    • Routine Maintenance & Community Outreach
      • Organize regular maintenance tours by technicians to ensure system upkeep and collect updated functionality data.
• Package 3: Strengthening Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) in 17 fishing communities in 5 coastal districts: Port Loko, Moyamba, Bonthe, Kambia, and Pujehun
  • To strengthen resilience and enhance local disaster response capacity, this project proposes a comprehensive Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) initiative targeting 17 fishing communities across five coastal districts: Port Loko, Moyamba, Bonthe, Kambia, and Pujehun. The initiative will be implemented through inclusive, participatory approaches that involve women, youth, and marginalized groups at every stage. By establishing and empowering Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs), building local capacities, and implementing localized DRR action plans, the project aims to improve community readiness, protect critical WASH infrastructure, and ensure that DRR efforts are inclusive, sustainable, and community led.
  • Key Project Activities
    • Baseline and Situational Analysis
      • Conduct door-to-door household surveys to assess community vulnerabilities, WASH-related risks, and socio-economic opportunities.
      • Identify climate risks specific to each community, such as flooding, sea level rise, salinity intrusion, and coastal erosion.
    • Formation and Training of Community Disaster Committees
      • Establish gender-balanced Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs) with representation from youth, women, people with disabilities, local authorities, and civil society groups.
    • Development of DRR Action Plans
      • Facilitate participatory community risk profiling and development of seasonal Risk Calendars.
      • Prepare community-specific Climate and CBDRR Action Plans, integrating WASH, gender, and climate adaptation components.
    • Community Orientation and Awareness-Raising
      • Hold 2-day orientation sessions for the broader community on DRR, early warning systems, and safe hygiene practices.
      • Conduct advocacy for local authorities and behavior change communication (SBCC) campaigns targeting community members including all households to promote household disaster preparedness.

Selection Criteria

• Contribution of resource
• Local experience and presence
• Sector expertise and experience
• Project management
• Sustainability of intervention

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.