By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) has unveiled its Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for the period 2026–2030, outlining an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming water supply and sanitation services across the country's provincial areas.

The five-year plan is designed to strengthen SALWACO's capacity to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water services while improving institutional efficiency and ensuring the company's long-term financial viability. The strategy also seeks to support the Government of Sierra Leone's Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.

According to the Strategic Development Plan, SALWACO currently faces several challenges, including limited infrastructure coverage, weak governance systems, inadequate commercialization of services and insufficient financial resources to meet the growing demand for water supply and sanitation services.

The document highlights that SALWACO serves the provincial regions of Sierra Leone, covering an estimated 83.3 percent of the national population. Despite significant investments over the years, only a fraction of the population currently has access to potable water through the company's systems, underscoring the need for expanded infrastructure and improved service delivery.

To address those challenges, the SDP outlines five strategic goals. Those include strengthening institutional capacity, developing innovative water and sanitation infrastructure, enhancing the commercialization of water services, protecting and managing water infrastructure, and investing in human resource development.

The plan also emphasizes the adoption of modern technology, improved revenue collection systems and stronger partnerships with Government institutions, development partners, local councils and communities to ensure sustainable service delivery.

SALWACO's vision under the new strategy is to become a leading water and sanitation utility in West Africa by providing quality services in a commercially viable, environmentally sustainable and customer-focused manner.

The company estimates that approximately US$55.84 million will be required to successfully implement the Strategic Development Plan over the next five years. The investment is expected to support critical water supply and sanitation projects, institutional reforms and innovative business models aimed at improving operational performance.

The SDP further recognizes the importance of protecting Sierra Leone's abundant water resources while addressing emerging challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation and increasing demand for potable water.

SALWACO believes that the successful implementation of the Strategic Development Plan will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, strengthen sanitation services, enhance customer satisfaction and contribute to the country's broader socio-economic development agenda.

The company has called for strong collaboration among stakeholders, including the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, development partners, regulatory agencies, local authorities and the public to ensure the successful realization of the plan's objectives. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/salwaco-unveils-ambitious-2026-2030-strategic-development-plan-to-strengthen-water-and-sanitation-services/